Talent doesn’t have an expiration date: Somy Ali supports Govinda

Mumbai: Former actress Somy Ali, who now runs the NGO No More Tears, has stepped in to defend Govinda amid recent criticism over the actor accepting a role opposite a younger co-star. Ali, who worked with Govinda in Andolan (1995), drew on both her personal and professional history with the actor.

Taking to her Instagram, she posted, “I am going to chime in here as no one else will and show support whenever it’s necessary: I have known Govinda personally and professionally, which is why I can say a few things about him from both ends.”

She speaks highly of both the actor and his wife. “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. I have immense respect for both Chichi and Sunita,” she wrote.

Addressing the ageism directed at him, she pushes back firmly on the criticism. Her post read, “However, there is nothing ageist about an actor accepting a role with a younger actress. 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.”

For Somy, an actor’s value has never been about age. “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. Getting another opportunity when doors have been difficult to open should be celebrated. Every actor deserves the chance to prove that they still have something meaningful to offer,” she wrote.

She extends that thought to the broader pattern of using age as a tool to diminish an actor’s continued presence in the industry. “Age should never become a weapon against someone who is simply trying to earn a living and continue doing what he loves,” she said.

Somy reserves particular admiration for actors who refuse to step back simply because others suggest they should. “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,” her post ended.