Neelam Kothari
Neelam Kothari Soni, known mononymously as Neelam, is an Indian actress who worked in Hindi films. She was born on 18 July 1968 in hongkong. She made her acting debut with Jawaani (1984). And, followed it in various films 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 |
| Spouses | |
| Children | 1 |
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 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 Neelam was on vacation in Mumbai she was approached by director Ramesh Behl.[5] She decided to give acting a shot and signed Jawaani (1984) alongside Karan Shah, Tina Munim's nephew.[6]
Career
Acting
Though 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 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.[7]
In 2020-22 she has appeared alongside Maheep Kapoor, Bhavna Pandey and Seema Sajdeh in 2 seasons of the reality television series Fabulous Lives of Bollywood Wives that 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 followed 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] but they got divorced soon after.[14] After a brief relationship with actor Samir Soni,[15] she married him in 2011.[16] 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 | |
Television
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2020–present | Fabulous Lives of Bollywood Wives | Herself |
| 2023 | Made in Heaven | Kriti Malhotra |
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.
- "NRI beauties making it big in Bollywood". window2india.com. Archived from the original on 18 January 2009. Retrieved 9 December 2008.
- "Screen the Business of Entertainment-Films-Cover Story". 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.
- "Spotlight - Neelam Jewels". 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
