Bollywood veteran actor Govinda has issued a public apology following a controversial and widely criticized statement made by his wife, Sunita Ahuja, on a recent podcast. The actor strongly distanced himself from his wife’s remarks, terming them “disparaging.” The incident has once again put the couple under intense media scrutiny.
According to Indian media reports, Sunita Ahuja faced severe criticism from the public and religious groups after making offensive comments about the family’s spiritual advisor, Pandit Mukesh Shukla, during a podcast interview.
The Controversial Statement by Sunita Ahuja
During the podcast, Sunita Ahuja questioned the efficacy of religious rituals and prayers led by priests, stating:
“We also have a Pandit in our house, Govinda’s Pandit. He conducts Pooja and takes 2 lakh rupees. I tell Govinda to pray himself; the rituals he performs are useless.”
She further asserted her personal belief that only those prayers offered personally are accepted, stating she doesn’t believe in these things, and if she donates or performs good deeds, she does so herself for her own sake.
Govinda’s Emotional Video Response
In a video message released today responding to his wife’s comments, Govinda immediately sought to distance himself from the remarks and expressed deep remorse:
“I have been consulting with and deeply respect Pandit Mukesh Shukla Ji for years. His father was also our family Pandit. My wife made disparaging remarks against Pandit Mukesh Shukla in the podcast. I condemn them. Please accept my sincere apologies.”
Govinda and Sunita Ahuja married in 1987 and have two children, son Yashvardhan and daughter Tina Ahuja. The couple is often the subject of divorce rumors, which they consistently deny.
