‘Sanjay Dutt was freaking out’: Rajat Bedi recalls waiting hours for Govinda on Jodi No. 1 set; how one person’s delay can impact team morale

Rajat Bedi recalled an incident with Govinda and Sanjay Dutt on the sets of Jodi No. 1 (Source: Instagram/Rajat Bedi)

When actor Rajat Bedi recently recalled an incident from the sets of Jodi No. 1, it offered a glimpse into how professional boundaries and patience can be tested when one person’s delay affects an entire team’s schedule. Speaking about co-star Govinda during an interview with Siddharth Kannan, Rajat said that although he was a “wonderful human being,” there was one major challenge when working with him.

He shared, “He had taken on too much work. In Jodi No. 1, David (Dhawan) was supposed to start shooting at 7 am, but Sanjay Dutt and I were there at 6 in the morning for some reason. David and all of us were waiting for Govinda to arrive so we could start working. Then we got to know that Govinda was at home. Someone from the set was sent to his house and had to wait outside to bring him to the set. By the time it was 2 pm, Sanjay was freaking out. He was abusing.”

The confusion only grew when they learnt that Govinda wasn’t even at home but flying in from Hyderabad. “In those days, nobody would know where he was because he used to do four or five shifts a day. So at 3, Chi Chi (Govinda) came to the set, and when the assistant brought the scene to Sanjay, he realised he had many dialogues. Sanju started abusing the assistant and told him, ‘Give these lines to Govinda, I’m not doing this.’ The entire scene was changed on the spot. But when Govinda began shooting, he wrapped it all up in just two hours. He’s a performer.”

Counselling psychologist Athul Raj tells indianexpress.com, “Overcommitment often comes from insecurity or the need to prove oneself. But when it starts holding the team back, it becomes a leadership concern. The key is to separate intent from impact. The person may not mean harm, yet the pattern affects everyone. Managers should address it early and privately, with empathy and clarity.”

Colleagues can also set boundaries respectfully, as silence only builds frustration. Raj notes that open conversation restores trust and accountability without creating conflict.

Few things are as draining as being ready to work but forced to wait. “It sends an unspoken message that your time doesn’t matter. Over time, that sense of powerlessness erodes motivation and sparks frustration. Sanjay’s reaction is deeply human. When control over our schedule is stripped away, the mind interprets it as a personal slight,” explains Raj.

He adds that the healthiest way to cope is to “reclaim control internally.” Use the pause to reset: take a walk, breathe, read, or plan the next step. It’s not about suppressing anger but redirecting it. Waiting can feel wasted, or it can become a moment of reflection and composure. That choice restores agency and calm.

Talent is a gift, Raj says, but professionalism is a responsibility. “Teams can celebrate brilliance, but not at the cost of fairness. When one person’s time is treated as more valuable than everyone else’s, it quietly damages morale. True respect values both skill and reliability.”

The healthiest culture is one where excellence and accountability go hand in hand. “Great performance earns admiration, but respect for others’ time earns trust. Balancing skill with professional courtesy is what sustains teams — on a film set or in any workplace,” concludes the expert.