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

The Iconic Duo of Govinda and David Dhawan

Monkey: The legendary pairing of Bollywood actor Govinda and director David Dhawan created a sensation in the 1990s. They delivered a series of blockbuster comedies, one of which was 'Aankhen,' released in 1993. Interestingly, this film featured a monkey that reportedly earned a higher fee than both Govinda and Chunky Pandey.

A Blockbuster Film

Directed by David Dhawan, 'Aankhen' starred notable actors including Govinda, Chunky Pandey, Kader Khan, and others. The plot revolves around a wealthy man (Kader Khan) and his two irresponsible sons (Govinda and Chunky Pandey). Frustrated with their antics, he kicks them out, leading to their encounters with Rajeshwari (Priya Mohan) and Ritu (Ritu Shivpuri). Their mischief lands them in various troubles, forming the crux of the film's narrative. The film's storyline, dialogues, and songs were immensely popular.

The Monkey's Star Power

बंदर के थे नखरे हजार

In this film, a monkey played a significant role alongside Govinda, Chunky Pandey, and Shakti Kapoor. During an interview, Chunky Pandey revealed that the monkey received the most attention on set, often exhibiting demanding behavior and being quite expensive to work with.

The Monkey's Earnings

Chunky disclosed that both he and Govinda were paid ₹18 lakhs each for their roles, while the monkey earned ₹20 lakhs. Additionally, filming with the monkey was challenging, as it bit Chunky multiple times, requiring him to get injections. The crew often found themselves exasperated by the monkey's antics.

Notably, 'Aankhen' was one of the biggest Bollywood hits of 1993, running in theaters for 12 weeks. Made on a budget of just ₹5.96 crores, the film grossed approximately ₹45.85 crores at the box office, a significant amount for that era.