Neelam Kothari, one of the charming actresses of her time, made her debut in the cinematic world with ‘Jawaani’ directed by Ramesh Behl, earning her a high range of accolades and numerous film offers. She was popularly known for starring alongside superstars Govinda and Chunky Panday in most of her films.
In an exclusive chat with Lehren in old and rare interview, Neelam opened up about her favorite movies and directors and her firm stance against sizzling scenes despite being offered a big amount. The conversation also offered some striking glimpses from the actress’ old photoshoot.
Born in Hong Kong into a Gujarati family, Neelam was in Mumbai for a vacation when she was approached by director Ramesh Behl, which earned her the lead role in his film ‘Jawaani’ (1984) alongside Karan Shah. She revealed her favorite directors to be Shibu Mitra, K. Bapayya, and Vijay Sadanah. She also expressed her desire to work in art films that are distinctive from regular feature films.
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She also shared her fears about marriage but later got married in October 2000 to Rishi Sethia, divorcing him soon after. She then married actor Samir Soni, with whom she is happily married now. Saying she couldn’t do films and be a housewife at the same time, her last film was ‘Kasam’ (2001). She made her comeback with appearances in shows like ‘Fabulous Lives of Bollywood Wives’ (2020), ‘Masaba Masaba’ (2022), and ‘Made in Heaven’ (2023).
To know the same in detail, catch her exclusive podcast with Lehren below. Also, check out glimpses of her rare photoshoot, where she appeared in an all-white wrap-patterned dress accessorized with shell necklaces and earrings that highlight her striking aura.
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