Bollywood actor Govinda’s former secretary, Shashi Prabhu, passed away today at 4 PM at his residence in Niranjan Society, Chikuwadi, Borivali West. According to sources, Prabhu had been battling heart issues and had recently undergone bypass surgery. His funeral is expected to take place at 10 PM tonight.
Govinda, deeply affected by the loss, has reportedly reached Prabhu’s residence to console the grieving family. Sources present at the scene revealed that the actor was in tears as he mourned his close associate.
Govinda’s current secretary, Shashi Sinha, opened up about the actor’s longstanding relationship with Prabhu. Speaking to ETimes, he said, “He was Govinda’s childhood friend. From the very beginning, they shared a close bond, and for many years, he also worked for Govinda. I got to know him later. But during Govinda’s early struggles, he was like a brother to him. Govinda loved him like a brother, and their relationship remains the same to this day.”
Sinha also highlighted Prabhu’s active involvement in Govinda’s political career, stating that he played a key role in handling the actor’s political affairs. However, when asked if Prabhu was responsible for bringing Govinda into politics, Sinha denied it, saying, “No, there was nothing like that.”
Despite Sinha’s statement, Prabhu has often been credited as the driving force behind Govinda’s successful entry into politics. In a 2004 interview with Rediff, Prabhu had spoken about mentoring Govinda in the political landscape.
“Yes, I advise him, but insist that he do what he thinks is best. I may be senior to him in politics, but it’s not necessary that seniors are better than juniors. Young and new entrants always have their own views. Seniors have more knowledge, but young people have knowledge of today’s world,” he had said.
When asked about Govinda’s vision for his Lok Sabha constituency, Mumbai North, which includes Borivali, Prabhu had outlined some of the actor’s development plans. “Govinda has many development plans in mind for the people of his constituency. For example, he wants to beautify Borivali railway station. We don’t believe in bhaashanbaazi (making speeches). I will carry out development projects using my MLA fund and Govinda’s MP fund. My slogan is ‘Har pariwar ko mile aawas, Borivali Dahisar ka ho vikas, yahi hai mera prayas’ (A home for every family, development for Borivali-Dahisar, this is my endeavor).”
Shashi Prabhu’s passing marks the end of an era for those who closely followed Govinda’s career in films and politics. His contribution to shaping the actor’s political journey remains a significant part of his legacy.
