Somy Ali backs Govinda amid wife Sunita Ahuja's public attacks
Synopsis
As Sunita Ahuja's public attacks on Govinda drew industry silence, former co-star Somy Ali broke ranks — posting a pointed defence on Instagram that called out ageism, backed his right to keep working, and became the first peer voice in a dispute that has gripped Bollywood watchers.
Key Takeaways
Somy Ali is the first co-star to publicly support Govinda amid his ongoing dispute with wife Sunita Ahuja .
Ali shared a throwback collage and a lengthy note on Instagram on Sunday , praising Govinda's humility and talent.
Sunita Ahuja publicly called the 62-year-old actor actress Komal 's 'sugar daddy' during promotions for his upcoming film.
Ali defended Govinda's right to work with younger co-stars, calling age-based criticism unfair and ageist.
No other Bollywood figure had spoken in Govinda's defence before Ali's post, making her intervention notable.
Former actress Somy Ali has become the first co-star to publicly stand by Govinda amid his escalating public dispute with wife Sunita Ahuja, who has levelled a series of sharp personal attacks against the veteran actor. Ali shared her support on Sunday via an Instagram post, making her the sole industry voice to have spoken in Govinda's defence so far.
What Somy Ali Said
Ali posted a collage of throwback photographs with the actor, accompanied by a lengthy note recalling their personal and professional bond. 'Chichi is one of the greatest talents in the Hindi film industry and he is one of the most humble actors I got to know during my time within that industry,' she wrote, using Govinda's widely known nickname.
She was careful to express respect for both sides of the couple, while firmly pushing back against what she described as ageist criticism directed at the actor. 'Talent doesn't have an expiration date. At a time when work may be difficult to find, choosing to keep working is something to respect, not ridicule,' Ali wrote.
The Controversy That Triggered the Row
The dispute became public when Sunita Ahuja used the promotional campaign for Govinda's upcoming film as an occasion to publicly call him actress Komal's 'sugar daddy.' Sunita alleged that Govinda had previously had an affair with Komal and criticised the 62-year-old actor for being seen with a woman she described as being his daughter's age, also mocking Komal's appearance and clothing choices.
The remarks drew wide attention and placed Govinda at the centre of a very public marital conflict, with no fellow industry figures initially coming forward in his support — until Ali's post.
Ali's Defence of Govinda's Career Choices
Ali argued that an actor accepting a role opposite a younger co-star is neither unusual nor inappropriate. 'An actor's worth isn't determined by his age or by the age of his co-star. It's determined by his talent, professionalism, and willingness to keep going,' she stated.
She went further, framing the criticism as an unfair use of age as a weapon against someone simply trying to sustain a career. 'Every actor deserves the chance to prove that they still have something meaningful to offer. Perhaps the most admirable thing about an actor is his refusal to give up when the industry or others start telling him he's too old,' she added.
Why This Moment Stands Out
Notably, Ali's intervention is significant not just for its content but for its rarity — no other former co-star or industry peer had publicly backed Govinda before her post. The silence from Bollywood circles had itself become a talking point, making Ali's decision to 'chime in,' as she put it, a pointed act of solidarity. This comes amid a broader pattern in the industry where public domestic disputes rarely attract peer commentary, particularly when a spouse is the source of the criticism.
How the situation between Govinda and Sunita Ahuja develops — and whether more voices from the film fraternity follow Ali's lead — remains to be seen.
Point of View
The absence of peer support for Govinda — a major star of the 1990s — points to the awkwardness of taking sides in a public marital dispute. Ali's intervention reframes the story from a domestic row to a question about how the industry treats ageing male actors, and whether ageism operates differently when the critic is a spouse rather than a trade analyst. That framing may not hold under scrutiny — the original allegations by Sunita Ahuja were about infidelity, not age — but Ali has successfully shifted at least part of the conversation.
NationPress
17 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Somy Ali supporting Govinda?
Somy Ali says she has known Govinda personally and professionally and felt compelled to speak up when no one else did. She praised his humility and talent, and defended his right to continue working with younger co-stars without being subjected to age-based ridicule.
What did Sunita Ahuja say about Govinda?
Sunita Ahuja publicly called Govinda actress Komal's 'sugar daddy' during promotions for his upcoming film, alleging a prior affair and criticising him for being seen with a woman she described as being his daughter's age. She also mocked Komal's clothing.
Who is Komal in the Govinda controversy?
Komal is an actress who stars opposite Govinda in his upcoming film. Sunita Ahuja had previously accused Govinda of having an affair with her, and renewed those allegations publicly when he was spotted with Komal during film promotions.
Has anyone else from Bollywood supported Govinda?
As of Somy Ali's post on Sunday, no other co-star or industry figure had publicly come forward in Govinda's support, making Ali the first peer voice in his defence.
What did Somy Ali post on Instagram?
Ali posted a collage of throwback photographs with Govinda along with a lengthy written note defending his character and career choices, arguing that talent has no age limit and that age should never be used as a weapon against an actor still willing to work.
