Neelam Kothari

Neelam Kothari Soni is a British actress and jewellery designer from Hong Kong, known mononymously as Neelam. She made her acting debut with Jawaani (1984) opposite debutant Karan Shah. Neelam has thereafter starred opposite Govinda in 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

British Hong Kong
NationalityBritish
OccupationActress
Jewelry designer
Years active1984–2001
2020–present
Spouse(s)
Rishi Sethia
​
​
(m. 2000, divorced)​

​
(m. 2011)​

Early life

Neelam Kothari was born in Hong Kong. She is a Gujarati-Iranian.[1] 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.[2] She decided to give acting a shot and signed for the film Jawaani (1984) alongside Karan Shah, Tina Munim's nephew.[3] But the film was unsuccessful commercially.[3]

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 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). She also worked in the Bengali film Badnaam (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.[4]

In 2020, she starred in a reality television series Fabulous Lives of Bollywood Wives which was streamed on Netflix.[5][6]

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[7] 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.[8] 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,[9] 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
Neelam Kothari with husband Samir Soni in 2012

In October 2000, Neelam married Rishi Sethia, the son of a businessman from the UK.[10] They got divorced soon after.[11] After a brief relationship with actor Samir Soni,[12] she married him in 2011.[13] After 2 years of marriage, in 2013, they adopted a daughter and named her Ahana.[14]

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.[15]

Filmography
Year Title Role Notes
1984 Jawaani Sanam
1986 Ilzaam Aarti
Andaz Pyar Ka
Love 86 Esha
1987 Aag Hi Aag Aarti
Khudgarz Jyoti
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
Sindoor Lalita Kapoor
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 Pattar Aur Payal
2001 Kasam Bindiya
2020 Fabulous Lives of Bollywood Wives Herself Reality series

References
  1. Tahseen, Ismat (10 January 2011). "Neelam Kothari and Samir Soni get candid about their upcoming wedding". DNA India.
  2. "NRI beauties making it big in Bollywood". window2india.com. Archived from the original on 18 January 2009. Retrieved 9 December 2008.
  3. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 22 October 2008. Retrieved 29 June 2010.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  4. "We had loads to sort out before marriage: Neelam". The Times of India.
  5. "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.
  6. 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.
  7. "Top 15 Jewellery Designers In India You Must Know". Jewellery Craze. 11 July 2017. Retrieved 27 December 2018.
  8. "Spotlight - Neelam Jewels". verveonline.com. Archived from the original on 1 March 2009.
  9. Pal, Dharam (9 January 1999). "On path to super success". The Tribune. Retrieved 3 August 2017.
  10. Vetticad, Anna M M (6 November 2000). "Actor Neelam Kothari and beau Rishi Sethia get married in Bangkok". India Today. Retrieved 17 May 2018.
  11. "Neelam Kothari splits with beau". www.hindustantimes.com. 6 November 2009. Retrieved 17 May 2018.
  12. Khera, Japleen (26 November 2020). "Neelam Kothari and Samir Soni: Marriage, Family, Kids, How Did They Meet?". The Cinemaholic. Retrieved 2 April 2021.
  13. "Samir Soni weds Neelam". Rediff. 24 January 2011.
  14. Maheshwri, Neha (2 September 2013). "Neelam and Samir Soni adopt a baby girl". The Times of India. Retrieved 17 April 2016.
  15. "Blackbuck case: Jodhpur HC adjourns hearing against Saif, Sonali, Tabu, Neelam after issuing fresh notice in May". The Economic Times.
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