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, Bollywood legends Govinda and director David Dhawan created a sensation with their collaboration, delivering a series of blockbuster comedies. One of their notable films was 'Aankhen,' released in 1993. Interestingly, it was revealed that the monkey featured in the film received the highest fee among the cast.

A Blockbuster Success

Directed by David Dhawan, 'Aankhen' starred an ensemble cast including Govinda, Chunky Pandey, Kader Khan, and several others. The plot revolves around a wealthy man (played by Kader Khan) who, frustrated with his two useless sons (Govinda and Chunky Pandey), kicks them out of the house. Their misadventures lead them to meet two women, resulting in a series of comedic troubles that drive the film's narrative. The film's storyline, dialogues, and music were all major hits.

The Monkey's Star Power

In 'Aankhen,' alongside Govinda and Chunky Pandey, a monkey played a significant role. During an interview, Chunky Pandey shared that the monkey garnered the most attention on set, often displaying its own set of quirks and demanding a high fee. He humorously noted that both he and Govinda earned 18 lakh rupees each for their roles, while the monkey received 20 lakh rupees.

Challenges of Working with the Monkey

Chunky also recounted the difficulties of filming with the monkey, which had a tendency to bite him during shoots, leading to a few trips for injections. The crew often found themselves exasperated by the monkey's antics. Notably, 'Aankhen' was a massive hit in 1993, running for 12 weeks in theaters. Made on a budget of just 5.96 crores, it grossed approximately 45.85 crores at the box office, a remarkable achievement for that era.