If Govinda wants to give Bollywood's filmmakers a wake up call, he needs to do a film that showcases his acting talent, writes Syed Firdaus Ashraf.

Let me tell you a story about a Bollywood struggler I met about 10 years ago, when I was waiting to interview director Imtiaz Ali.

He had come with his photographs and the hope that Imtiaz would cast him as a hero in his next movie.

"Five years," said the lad from Jharkhand, defining his struggle. "And six films."

Not a single one had been released, and the struggling actor was barely able to make ends meet.

"If you want to become a star," he said, "you have to cross these three levels.

"Level 1: You should get a chance to act.

"Level 2: Your film should release on the big screen.

"Level 3: It must become a hit.

"Until then, you are a 'zero' in Bollywood."

Why am I telling you this story?

Because it's a story that Govinda, a hero I loved, needs to know.

Today, he can only reach Level 2.

And he will remain at Level 2 only if he tries to regain the glory days of his youth and play the typical 'Bollywood' hero who runs around trees, woos PYTs and effortlessly bashes up the bad guys.