Govinda and director David Dhawan were a dynamic duo responsible for some of the biggest comedy hits of the 90s and early 2000s. However, today we focus on one of their less successful ventures, which was criticized as an ‘unfunny rip-off’ of a Hollywood classic.
Released on September 21, 2001, Kyo Kii… Main Jhuth Nahin Bolta was the 15th collaboration between Dhawan and Govinda. This film also marked the debut of Ekta Kapoor as a film producer. The cast featured Govinda, Sushmita Sen, Rambha, Sharad Kapoor, Ashish Vidyarthi, and Anupam Kher in pivotal roles.
Kyo Kii… Main Jhuth Nahin Bolta drew inspiration from the 1997 Hollywood comedy Liar Liar, starring Jim Carrey. Additionally, the film’s official poster was noted for its similarities to the one from Jim Carrey’s Me, Myself & Irene (2000).
Shah Rukh Khan was originally considered for the lead role but turned it down, leading to Govinda being cast instead. Saif Ali Khan was also approached for a supporting role but declined, which resulted in Sharad Kapoor taking on the part.
The film had a challenging box office performance. It faced stiff competition from Ajnabee, starring Bobby Deol and Akshay Kumar. With a budget of Rs 8.50 crore, Kyo Kii… Main Jhuth Nahin Bolta grossed only Rs 7.95 crores nett.
Despite this setback, Govinda and David Dhawan had a successful partnership, working together on 18 films, including hits like Aankhen, Shola Aur Shabnam, Raja Babu, Coolie No 1, Hero No 1, Bade Miyan Chote Miyan, Jodi No 1, and Partner. Their collaborations remain celebrated for their contribution to Bollywood’s comedy genre.
