Wednesday,
July
04,
2007
Salman
Khan
and
Govinda
have
grown
close
to
each
other
after
having
worked
together
in
films
like
Salaam-e-Ishq
and
Partner.
The
two
friends
have
been
frequenting
the
Barista
coffee
shop
at
Bandra
Bandstand
much
to
the
delight
of
fans.
"Whenever
Salman
is
in
town
he
comes
here
for
coffee," the
coffee
shop
manager
Sudhir
Pandey
told
a
news
magazine.
Salman's
presence
there
often
leads
to
chaos
in
and
outside
the
coffee
shop
as
fans
gather
to
catch
a
glimpse
of
the
controversial
but
popular
star.
The
bodyguards
of
the
stars
are
easily
overwhelmed
by
the
crowd.
"It's
a
little
difficult
as
the
mob
wants
to
grab
Salman
Khan.
We
have
dropped
drinks
and
other
food
items
while
trying
to
serve
amidst
the
crowds,"
explains
Pandey.
The
coffee
shop
staff
is
fond
of
the
unassuming
Salman
and
takes
the
commotion
resulting
from
his
visit
in
their
stride.
"He
doesn't
have
starry
airs,
nor
does
he
demand
any
particular
table.
He
sits
at
any
table
that's
available,"
says
Pandey.
Salman
Khan
is
credited
with
having
revived
Govinda's
career
by
recommending
him
to
Nikhil
Advani
for
a
role
in
Salaam-e-Ishq.
Later,
Salman
convinced
David
Dhawan
to
sign
up
Govinda
as
his
co-star
for
the
romantic
comedy
Partner
due
to
hit
theatres
on
20
Jul
2007.
The
female
leads
in
the
film
are
played
by
Katrina
Kaif
and
Lara
Dutta.
The
promos
for
Partner
have
created
a
buzz
and
the
film
is
expected
to
elevate
Govinda
to
the
A-list
once
again.
It
is
reported
that
Govinda,
touched
by
Salman's
help
in
getting
him
a
role
in
Partner,
refused
to
accept
payment
for
the
film
produced
by
Salman's
brother
Sohail
Khan.
Salman
reciprocated
by
gifting
Govinda
a
Mercedes
worth
Rs
25
lakh.