Neelam Kothari Explained

Neelam Kothari Soni (née Kothari; born 9 November 1969^[1]), known mononymously as Neelam, is an Indian actress who worked in Hindi films. She made her acting debut with Jawaani (1984), followed it in various films opposite Govinda such as Love 86 (1986), Ilzaam (1986), Sindoor (1987), Khudgarz (1987), Hatya (1988), Farz Ki Jung (1989), Billoo Badshah (1989), Taaqatwar (1989) and Do Qaidi (1989); simultaneously starred opposite Chunky Pandey in films Aag Hi Aag (1987), Paap Ki Duniya (1988), Khatron Ke Khiladi (1988), Ghar Ka Chiraag (1989), and Mitti Aur Sona (1989).

Early life

Neelam Kothari was born in Hong Kong to a Gujarati Jain father Shishir Kothari and Parsi mother Parveen Kothari.^{[2] [3] [4] [5]} As a child, she learned to play the keyboard and danced Jazz Ballet. Her family has a traditional jewellery-making business, making high-class pieces. She was educated at Island School, where she was a member of Rutherford House. When she was a teenager, her family moved to Bangkok. When Neelam was on vacation in Mumbai she was approached by director Ramesh Behl.^[6] She decided to give acting a shot and signed Jawaani (1984) alongside Karan Shah, Tina Munim's nephew.^[7]

Career

Acting

Though Jawaani was not a big hit commercially, Neelam's performance in her debut film was noticed and she received many offers. She gained popularity from her role in Ilzaam (1986) opposite debutant Govinda. She made a very popular pairing with Govinda and they starred together in 14 movies. The bigger hits amongst them include Love 86 (1986), Khudgarz (1987), Hatya (1988) and Taaqatwar (1989). She gave five hits with Chunkey Pandey - Aag Hi Aag (1987), Paap Ki Duniya (1988), Khatron Ke Khiladi (1988), Mitti Aur Sona (1989) and Ghar Ka Chiraag (1989), out of the eight films she costarred with him (the other three were Zakham (1989 film), Khule-Aam and a Bengali film, Mandira). She has also worked in the Bengali film Badnam (1990) with Prosenjit Chatterjee.

Neelam has also appeared in the popular Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998) where she played herself as a VJ and the ensemble family drama Hum Saath Saath Hain (1999) in which she played a pivotal supporting role. Her last film was the much-delayed Kasam (2001) opposite Chunky Pandey.^[8]

In 2020-22 she has appeared alongside Maheep Kapoor, Bhavna Pandey and Seema Sajdeh in 3 seasons of the reality television series Fabulous Lives of Bollywood Wives that streamed on Netflix.^{[9] [10]}

Jewellery designing

Even while pursuing her career in acting, she was interested in jewellery designing and was involved in her family business. She followed a formal course in jewellery-designing^[11] in Mumbai and, after quitting films temporarily in 2001, started out commercially on her own under the name Neelam Jewels. She opened a showroom in Mumbai in 2004.^[12] She then launched her jewellery store in Mumbai on 25 August 2011 under the name Neelam Kothari Fine Jewels.

Other works

Neelam featured in Bina Mistry's Hot Hot Hot music video,^[13] a song that is part of a compilation of dance hits in the 1995 BMG release, titled Channel [V] Hits: The Ultimate Dance Collection. The song became a hit when it was featured as part of the soundtrack of Bend It Like Beckham (2002). In 2022, she collaborated with the BNK Group to design luxury residential interiors.^[14]

Personal life

In October 2000, Neelam married Rishi Sethia, the son of a businessman from the UK^[15] but they got divorced soon after.^[16] After a brief relationship with actor Samir Soni,^[17] she married him in 2011.^[18] In 2013, they adopted a daughter and named her Ahana.^[19]

Blackbuck poaching case

See main article: 1998 blackbuck poaching case. In 1998, Neelam was charged with the Wildlife Act and the Indian Penal Code for the poaching of two blackbucks in Kankani during the filming of Hum Saath Saath Hain, along with co-stars Salman Khan, Saif Ali Khan, Sonali Bendre and Tabu. She was acquitted by the court of a chief judicial magistrate at Jodhpur on 5 April 2018.^[20]

Filmography

Television

Notes and References

1. Web site: Sanjeeiv . Niharika . Samir Soni's Special Birthday Post For "Fabulous Wife" Neelam Kothari . ndtv.com . 9 November 2022 . 18 October 2024.
2. Web site: Neelam Interview 1987 . 23 April 2021 . . 3 June 2022 . 3 June 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220603000557/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N0TqFFd0LVw&gl=US&hl=en . live .
3. Web site: This Fabulous Mother of Throwbacks, Shared by Neelam Kothari . 3 June 2022 . 3 June 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220603000558/https://www.ndtv.com/entertainment/neelam-kothari-s-throwback-picture-with-her-mother-has-us-feeling-nostalgic-2463258 . live .
4. Web site: Neelam Kothari's father passes away: 'You were my guiding light, my strength' . 14 November 2021.
5. News: Neelam Kothari and Samir Soni get candid about their upcoming wedding . Ismat . Tahseen . 10 January 2011 . . 14 May 2018 . 14 May 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180514142917/http://www.dnaindia.com/entertainment/report-neelam-kothari-and-samir-soni-get-candid-about-their-upcoming-wedding-1492601 . live .
6. Web site: NRI beauties making it big in Bollywood . window2india.com . 9 December 2008 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090118023720/http://www.window2india.com/cms/admin/article.jsp?aid=9145 . 18 January 2009 . dead.
7. Web site: Screen the Business of Entertainment-Films-Cover Story . 29 June 2010 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20081022114050/http://www.screenindia.com/old/20020426/fcover.html . 22 October 2008.
8. News: We had loads to sort out before marriage: Neelam . The Times of India . 25 January 2011 . 4 October 2015 . 25 June 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150625114926/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/We-had-loads-to-sort-out-before-marriage-Neelam/articleshow/7358538.cms . live .
9. Web site: 28 November 2020 . Fabulous Lives of Bollywood Wives review: All bark no bite, this desi Netflix show fails to get even trash TV right . 5 March 2021 . Hindustan Times . en . 6 March 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210306091952/https://www.hindustantimes.com/tv/fabulous-lives-of-bollywood-wives-review-all-bark-no-bite-this-desi-netflix-show-fails-to-get-even-trash-tv-right/story-6knr4svgaAsliKBbQK2BcP.html . live .
10. Web site: Bureau . ABP News . 3 March 2021 . 'Fabulous Lives of Bollywood Wives' To Return With Second Season On Netflix, Fans Wish To See SRK-Gauri Again On Show . 5 March 2021 . ABP Live . en . 3 March 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210303125107/https://news.abplive.com/entertainment/movies/fabulous-lives-of-bollywood-wives-2-show-to-return-with-new-season-on-netflix-neelam-kothari-srk-gauri-khan-1446804 . live .
11. Web site: Top 15 Jewellery Designers In India You Must Know . 11 July 2017 . Jewellery Craze . en-US . 27 December 2018 . 10 June 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210610153730/https://www.jewellerycraze.com/top-jewellery-designers-in-india/ . dead .
12. Web site: Spotlight - Neelam Jewels . verveonline.com . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090301132349/http://www.verveonline.com/27/spotlight/neelam/neelam.shtml . 1 March 2009.
13. Web site: Dharam . Pal . 9 January 1999 . On path to super success . The Tribune . 3 August 2017 . 3 March 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160303192854/http://www.tribuneindia.com/1999/99jan09/saturday/head6.htm . live .
14. News: 18 April 2022 . THE BNK GROUP partners with Neelam Kothari Soni to create residential apartments that showcase luxury & elegance . 20 July 2025 . The Economic Times . 0013-0389 . 8 July 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220708093051/https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/magazines/panache/the-bnk-group-partners-with-neelam-kothari-soni-to-create-residential-apartments-that-showcase-luxury-elegance/articleshow/90902924.cms . live .
15. Web site: Anna M M . Vetticad . 6 November 2000 . Actor Neelam Kothari and beau Rishi Sethia get married in Bangkok . India Today . en . 17 May 2018 . 17 May 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180517223456/https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/eyecatchers/story/20001106-actor-neelam-kothari-and-beau-rishi-sethia-get-married-in-bangkok-778400-2000-11-06 . live .
16. News: Neelam Kothari splits with beau . 6 November 2009 . Hindustan Times . 17 May 2018 . en . 18 May 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180518054500/https://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/neelam-kothari-splits-with-beau/story-kJLZpgnUpuUGvrSlW74JRL.html . live .
17. Web site: Khera . Japleen . 26 November 2020 . Neelam Kothari and Samir Soni: Marriage, Family, Kids, How Did They Meet? . 2 April 2021 . The Cinemaholic . en-US . 15 April 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210415024905/https://thecinemaholic.com/neelam-kothari-and-samir-soni/ . live .
18. Web site: Samir Soni weds Neelam . 24 January 2011 . Rediff . 24 January 2011 . 5 October 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20111005155135/http://www.rediff.com/movies/slide-show/slide-show-1-neelam-weds-samir-soni/20110124.htm . live .
19. Web site: Maheshwri . Neha . Neelam and Samir Soni adopt a baby girl . . 17 April 2016 . 2 September 2013 . 30 August 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160830171208/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/Neelam-and-Samir-Soni-have-adopted-a-baby-girl-named-Ahana/articleshow/22222260.cms . live .
20. News: Blackbuck case: Jodhpur HC adjourns hearing against Saif, Sonali, Tabu, Neelam after issuing fresh notice in May . The Economic Times . 1 April 2021 . 9 May 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210509192705/https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/magazines/panache/jodhpur-hc-issues-notice-to-saif-ali-khan-sonali-bendre-tabu-neelam-kothari-in-blackbuck-poaching-case/articleshow/68356629.cms?from=mdr . live .