Neelam Kothari
Neelam Kothari Soni is an Indian actress and jewellery designer from Mumbai, known mononymously as Neelam. She made her acting debut with Jawaani (1984) opposite debutant Karan Shah. Since then she starred in various films alongside Govinda such as Love 86 (1986), Ilzaam (1986), Sindoor (1986), Khudgarz (1987), Hatya (1988), Farz Ki Jung (1989), Taaqatwar (1989) and Do Qaidi (1989). She starred opposite Chunkey Pandey in films Aag Hi Aag (1987), Paap Ki Duniya (1988), Khatron Ke Khiladi (1988), Billoo Badshah (1989), Ghar Ka Chiraag (1989), and Mitti Aur Sona (1989).
Neelam Kothari Soni | |
|---|---|
Kothari in 2012 | |
| Born | Neelam Kothari |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Occupation(s) | Actress Jewelry designer |
| Years active | 1984–2001 2020–present |
| Spouse(s) | Rishi Sethia (m. 2000, divorced) |
Early life
Neelam Kothari Soni was born in Hong Kong to a Gujarati Indian father Shishir Kothari and Iranian mother Parveen Kothari.[1][2][3][4] As a child, she learnt 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. After her childhood in Hong Kong, her family moved to Bangkok. Neelam was holidaying in Mumbai when she was approached by director Ramesh Behl.[5] She decided to give acting a shot and signed for the film Jawaani (1984) alongside Karan Shah, Tina Munim's nephew.[6] But the film was unsuccessful commercially.[6]
Career
Acting
Kothari's performance in her debut film was noticed in film circles and she received offers. She later became famous in 1986 for her role in the film Ilzaam opposite another debutant, Govinda. She made a very popular pairing with Govinda and starred with him in 14 movies and some of their films include Love 86 (1986), Khudgarz (1987), Hatya (1988) and Taaqatwar (1989). She had 5 hits opposite Chunkey Pandey, such as Aag Hi Aag (1987), Paap Ki Duniya (1988), Khatron Ke Khiladi (1988), Mitti Aur Sona (1989) and Ghar Ka Chiraag (1989), out of 8 films with him, the other 3 being Zakham (1989 film), Khule-Aam and a Bengali film, Mandira (film). She also worked in another Bengali film Badnam (1990) with Prosenjit Chatterjee.
She was also noticed for her appearance in the 1998 film Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, where she played herself as a VJ and in the 1999 ensemble family drama Hum Saath Saath Hain in which she played a supporting role. Her last film was the delayed release Kasam in 2001, opposite Chunky Pandey.[7]
In 2020, she starred alongside Maheep Kapoor, Bhavna Pandey and Seema Sajdeh in a reality television series Fabulous Lives of Bollywood Wives as well as Season 2 (2022), both of which was streamed on Netflix.[8][9]
Jewellery designing
Even while pursuing her career in acting, she was interested in jewellery designing and was involved in her family business. She pursued a formal course in jewellery-designing[10] 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.[11] 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,[12] 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).
Personal life
In October 2000, Neelam married Rishi Sethia, the son of a businessman from the UK.[13] They got divorced soon after.[14] After a brief relationship with actor Samir Soni,[15] she married him in 2011.[16] After 2 years of marriage, in 2013, they adopted a daughter and named her Ahana.[17]
In 1998, Neelam was charged with the Wildlife Act and the IPC 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 CJM court at Jodhpur on 5 April 2018.[18]
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | Jawaani | Sanam | |
| 1986 | Ilzaam | Aarti | |
| Andaz Pyar Ka | |||
| Love 86 | Esha | ||
| 1987 | Aag Hi Aag | Aarti | |
| Khudgarz | Jyoti | ||
| Sindoor | Lalita Kapoor | ||
| 1988 | Taaqatwar | Bijli | |
| Hatya | Sapna | ||
| Waqt Ki Awaz | Dancer, Singer | ||
| Ghar Mein Ram Gali Mein Shyam | Jaya | ||
| Khatron Ke Khiladi | Sunita | ||
| Paap Ki Duniya | Aarti | ||
| 1989 | Gharana | Lalita | |
| Do Qaidi | Neelu | ||
| Ghar Ka Chiraag | Kiran | ||
| Hum Bhi Insaan Hain | Rekha | ||
| Mitti Aur Sona | Anupama | ||
| 1990 | Vishnu Devaa | ||
| Mandira | Bengali film | ||
| Badnam | Kajol | Bengali film | |
| Shankara | Seema | ||
| Doodh Ka Karz | Reshma | ||
| Upkar Dhoodhache | Reshma | Marathi film | |
| Chor Pe Mor | Ritu | ||
| Amiri Garibi | Jyoti | ||
| Agneepath | Siksha Chavan | ||
| Zakham | Aarti | ||
| Billoo Badshah | Jyoti | ||
| Farz Ki Jung | Kavita | ||
| Dost Garibon Ka | Rekha | ||
| 1991 | Kasak | Divya | |
| Meet Mere Man Ke | |||
| Ranbhoomi | Neelam | ||
| Indrajeet | Neelam | ||
| Afsana Pyaar Ka | Nikita | ||
| 1992 | Ek Ladka Ek Ladki | Renu / Rani | |
| Khule-Aam | Priya | ||
| Sahebzaade | Chinar | ||
| Laat Saab | Anju / Mona | ||
| 1993 | Parampara | Sapna | |
| 1995 | Santaan | Asha | |
| Antim Nyay | Rekha | ||
| 1996 | Ek Tha Raja | Shilpa | |
| Sauda | Jyoti | ||
| Aadithya | Kannada film | ||
| 1997 | Mohabbat Aur Jung | Priya | |
| 1998 | Kuch Kuch Hota Hai | VJ Neelam | Special appearance |
| 1999 | Hum Saath-Saath Hain: We Stand United | Sangeeta | |
| 2000 | Patthar Aur Payal | ||
| 2001 | Kasam | Bindiya | |
| 2020–present | Fabulous Lives of Bollywood Wives | Herself | Reality series |
References
- ^ "Neelam Interview 1987" – via YouTube.
- ^ "This Fabulous Mother of Throwbacks, Shared by Neelam Kothari".
- ^ "Neelam Kothari's father passes away: 'You were my guiding light, my strength'". 14 November 2021.
- ^ Tahseen, Ismat (10 January 2011). "Neelam Kothari and Samir Soni get candid about their upcoming wedding". DNA India.
- ^ . window2india.com. Archived from the original on 18 January 2009. Retrieved 9 December 2008.
- ^ a b . Archived from the original on 22 October 2008. Retrieved 29 June 2010.
- ^ "We had loads to sort out before marriage: Neelam". The Times of India.
- ^ "Fabulous Lives of Bollywood Wives review: All bark no bite, this desi Netflix show fails to get even trash TV right". Hindustan Times. 28 November 2020. Retrieved 5 March 2021.
- ^ 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". ABP Live. Retrieved 5 March 2021.
- ^ "Top 15 Jewellery Designers In India You Must Know". Jewellery Craze. 11 July 2017. Retrieved 27 December 2018.
- ^ . verveonline.com. Archived from the original on 1 March 2009.
- ^ Pal, Dharam (9 January 1999). "On path to super success". The Tribune. Retrieved 3 August 2017.
- ^ Vetticad, Anna M M (6 November 2000). "Actor Neelam Kothari and beau Rishi Sethia get married in Bangkok". India Today. Retrieved 17 May 2018.
- ^ "Neelam Kothari splits with beau". Hindustan Times. 6 November 2009. Retrieved 17 May 2018.
- ^ Khera, Japleen (26 November 2020). "Neelam Kothari and Samir Soni: Marriage, Family, Kids, How Did They Meet?". The Cinemaholic. Retrieved 2 April 2021.
- ^ "Samir Soni weds Neelam". Rediff. 24 January 2011.
- ^ Maheshwri, Neha (2 September 2013). "Neelam and Samir Soni adopt a baby girl". The Times of India. Retrieved 17 April 2016.
- ^ "Blackbuck case: Jodhpur HC adjourns hearing against Saif, Sonali, Tabu, Neelam after issuing fresh notice in May". The Economic Times.
External links
- Neelam Kothari at IMDb
- Neelam Kothari at Bollywood Hungama