Bollywood star, Govinda's alleged pictures from the recently released James Cameron movie, 'Avatar: Fire and Ash' are going viral. Here's the truth behind it.
Avatar: Fire and Ash, the third film in James Cameron's Avatar franchise, premiered in theaters on December 19, 2025. The film has done considerably well in its opening weekend, having a strong global box office start, reportedly earning USD 88 million. The film has been generating significant buzz on fan discussion forums like Reddit and X (formerly Twitter), with viewers sharing mixed reviews of the plot of Avatar: The Way of Water's sequel. James Cameron has, as usual, impressed with the direction, which has helped the movie's decent box office start. In the chatter around the newly released live-action film, Govinda's name has come up. Here's everything we know about it.
Some images have been circulating on social media platforms such as X ( formerly Twitter) that claim to show Govinda in Avatar: Fire and Ash. The stills feature the Bollywood star seamlessly blending with the 'avatars' of the movie, due to his blue-painted physique and similar makeup. In one of the viral pictures, Govinda is also seen wearing Indian-style clothing, making fans wonder what kind of bizarre crossover it was. Notably, in a 2019 interview, Govinda claimed that the movie's director, James Cameron, offered him the lead role in the original Avatar and that he himself suggested the film's title. However, things didn't work out, and Govinda declined the project.
Now, fans think the actor has finally changed his mind and joined the franchise's third instalment. Sadly, the ongoing buzz around the viral photos are woven around fabricated content. Govinda did not make a cameo in Avatar: Fire and Ash. Fact checks by various news outlets have confirmed that the photos of the Bollywood icon circulating on social media are AI-generated or photoshopped. The actual cast for the 2025 film includes Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Sigourney Weaver, Stephen Lang, and Kate Winslet. No official sources or film credits include Govinda.
Many online users believed the photos of Govinda were real and that the actor had finally accepted James Cameron's offer. They expressed disbelief saying, "Ain't no way James Cameron convinced Govinda to do a cameo in Avatar 3." An X user wrote, "Spoiler Alert: Finally Govinda Made Biggest Comeback with #AvatarFireAndAsh Cameo." Another stated, "Govinda finally said yes to James Cameron's Avatar." The posts also racked up thousands of views and likes because the editing seemed believable at first glance. It once again shows how advanced AI has become, making it difficult to distinguish between real and fake.
Govinda has claimed in multiple interviews, including on Aap Ki Adalat, that he rejected the lead role in James Cameron's Avatar (2009) for several specific reasons. Govinda stated that he was unwilling to have his body painted for a schedule lasting over 410 days, fearing the synthetic dyes would lead to health issues or hospitalisation. He reportedly turned down the role because the protagonist was "handicapped" (referring to the character, 'Jake Sully' being wheelchair-bound). Govinda felt this did not align with his on-screen image as a "Hero No. 1." Besides the character's disability, the actor was also concerned about the extensive time commitment.
The requirement to shoot the movie for approximately 410 days was another factor he cited for declining the offer. Govinda also claimed he suggested the title, Avatar, to Cameron and correctly predicted the film would take seven to eight years to complete, which he alleged made the director angry. Providing a contradictory viewpoint to Govinda's statement, his wife, Sunita Ahuja, stated in a recent interview that she was unaware of any such offer from James Cameron despite being with the actor for 40 years.
What are your thoughts on Govinda's viral AI-generated pics and his comments regarding rejecting a role in Avatar? Let us know.
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