The Surprising Star of 'Aankhen': A Monkey Earned More Than Govinda and Chunky Pandey

The Iconic Duo of Govinda and David Dhawan

In the 1990s, the collaboration between Bollywood superstar Govinda and director David Dhawan created a sensation, delivering a series of blockbuster comedies. One of their notable films, 'Aankhen', was released in 1993. Interestingly, this film featured a monkey that reportedly earned a higher fee than both Govinda and Chunky Pandey.

A Blockbuster Success

Directed by David Dhawan, 'Aankhen' starred a talented ensemble including Govinda, Chunky Pandey, Kader Khan, and others. The plot revolves around a wealthy man (played by Kader Khan) who becomes frustrated with his two useless sons (Govinda and Chunky Pandey) and kicks them out of the house. Their adventures lead them to meet two women, resulting in a series of comedic misadventures that form the crux of the film. The storyline, dialogues, and music contributed to its massive success.

The Monkey's Star Power

In 'Aankhen', alongside Govinda and Chunky Pandey, a monkey played a significant role. Chunky Pandey revealed in an interview that the monkey received the most attention on set and was quite demanding, making it a costly addition to the film. He humorously noted that both he and Govinda earned ₹18 lakhs each, while the monkey was paid ₹20 lakhs.

Challenges on Set

Chunky also shared that working with the monkey was challenging, as it had bitten him multiple times during filming, requiring him to get injections. The crew often found themselves exasperated by the monkey's antics.

Notably, 'Aankhen' became one of the biggest Bollywood hits of 1993, running for 12 weeks in theaters. Made on a budget of ₹5.96 crores, it grossed approximately ₹45.85 crores at the box office, a remarkable figure for that era.