Actor Govinda, during an interview to a television channel, has claimed that James Cameron had offered him the role of Sam Worthington, which was played by Jake Sully in the hit film Avatar. The actor also claimed it was he who suggested the film’s title to Cameron.

“I gave the title of the film (Avatar). It turned out to be a superhit. I had informed him (James Cameron) that the film will do really well. I told him that I feel it will take seven years for him to complete the film. He got angry when I said so. He asked, ‘How can you be so sure that I won’t be able to make Avatar for seven years?’ I told him that what he was imagining was almost impossible — that he has named his film Avatar but he is showing aliens,” Govinda said. 

He also claimed that he had rejected several Bollywood biggies including Devdas and Taal. Talking about rejecting Avatar, Govinda claimed he did not have enough dates. “Cameron wanted me to shoot for 410 days. For someone like me, to get painted all over the body was something I could not do. So, I apologised. But like I said, the film went on to become a super hit,” he said.

Soon after Govinda’s interview went on air, Twitterati left hilarious comments/tweets on social media. Some even created photoshopped images of Govinda as the Na’vi of Pandora.

One user wrote, “Govinda saying that he was offered Avatar is like saying Salman Khan was offered the Nobel Prize for Physics,.” while another one tweeted, “Govinda was offered the role of Iron man but he rejected as he doesn’t fit in an iron suit.” 

“If Govinda was offered the lead role of Avatar, my dad was offered the lead role of Sholay and declined it as he did not want to work with @aapkadharam. #Govinda #jhootmatbolo,” said one. 
“#Govinda rejected superhero movie Superman as he doesn’t have Pilot License to Fly,” another user tweeted. 

“#Govinda turned down the role in Avatar because he was busy campaigning for UK Prime Minister??,” a user asked. 

“If #Govinda was offered the role of Jake Sully in #Avatar. then I was offered the role of Maximus Decimus Meridius in Gladiator but I refused to wear a skirt so the role went to Russell Crowe. By the way, I didn’t suggest the title.” a user wrote.