Neelam Kothari Soni(néeKothari;born 9 November 1969[1]), known mononymously asNeelamis an Indian actress who worked inHindi films.She made her acting debut withJawaani(1984), followed it in various films oppositeGovindasuch asLove 86(1986),Ilzaam(1986),Sindoor(1987),Khudgarz(1987),Hatya(1988),Farz Ki Jung(1989),Billoo Badshah(1989),Taaqatwar(1989) andDo Qaidi(1989); simultaneously starred oppositeChunky Pandeyin filmsAag Hi Aag(1987),Paap Ki Duniya(1988),Khatron Ke Khiladi(1988),Ghar Ka Chiraag(1989), andMitti Aur Sona(1989).
Neelam Kothari Soni | |
|---|---|
 Kothari Soni in 2012 | |
| Born | Neelam Kothari 9 November 1969 |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Occupation(s) | Actress Jewelry designer |
| Years active | 1984–2001 2020–present |
| Spouses | |
| Children | 1 |
Early life
editNeelam Kothari Soni was born inHong Kongto aGujaratiJainfather Shishir Kothari andIranianmother 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 atIsland School,where she was a member of Rutherford House. When she was a teenager, her family moved toBangkok.When Neelam was on vacation in Mumbai she was approached by director Ramesh Behl.[6]She decided to give acting a shot and signedJawaani(1984) alongside Karan Shah,Tina Munim's nephew.[7]
Career
editActing
editThough not a big hit commercially, Neelam'sperformancein her debut film was noticed and she received many offers. She gained popularity from her role inIlzaam(1986) opposite debutantGovinda.She made a very popular pairing with Govinda and they starred in 14 movies. The bigger hits amongst them includeLove 86(1986),Khudgarz(1987),Hatya(1988) andTaaqatwar(1989). She gave five hits withChunkey Pandey-Aag Hi Aag(1987),Paap Ki Duniya(1988),Khatron Ke Khiladi(1988),Mitti Aur Sona(1989) andGhar Ka Chiraag(1989), out of the eight films she costarred with him (the other three wereZakham (1989 film),Khule-Aamand a Bengali film,Mandira).She has also worked in the Bengali filmBadnam(1990) withProsenjit Chatterjee.
Neelam has also appeared in the popularKuch Kuch Hota Hai(1998) where she played herself as aVJand the ensemble family dramaHum Saath Saath Hain(1999) in which she played a pivotal supporting role. Her last film was the much-delayed Kasam (2001) oppositeChunky Pandey.[8]
In 2020-22 she has appeared alongsideMaheep Kapoor,Bhavna PandeyandSeema Sajdehin 3 seasons of the reality television seriesFabulous Lives of Bollywood Wivesthat streamed onNetflix.[9][10]
Jewellery designing
editEven 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
editNeelam featured inBina Mistry'sHot Hot Hotmusic video,[13]a song that is part of a compilation of dance hits in the 1995 BMG release, titledChannel [V] Hits: The Ultimate Dance Collection.The song became a hit when it was featured as part of the soundtrack ofBend It Like Beckham(2002).
Personal life
edit
In October 2000, Neelam married Rishi Sethia, the son of a businessman from theUK[14]but they got divorced soon after.[15]After a brief relationship with actorSamir Soni,[16]she married him in 2011.[17]In 2013, they adopted a daughter and named her Ahana.[18]
In 1998, Neelam was charged with the Wildlife Act and the IPC for the poaching of two blackbucks in Kankani during the filming ofHum Saath Saath Hain,along with co-starsSalman Khan,Saif Ali Khan,Sonali BendreandTabu.She was acquitted by the CJM court at Jodhpur on 5 April 2018.[19]
Filmography
edit| 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 | Pyar Ka Karz | Seema Sanyal | |
| Vishnu-Devaa | Paro | ||
| Mandira | Bengalifilm | ||
| Badnam | Priya Dutta | Bengali film | |
| Shankara | Seema | ||
| Doodh Ka Karz | Reshma | ||
| Upkar Dhoodhache | Reshma | Marathifilm | |
| 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 | |
| Ranbhoomi | Neelam | ||
| Indrajeet | Neelam | ||
| Afsana Pyaar Ka | Nikita | ||
| Pratigyabadh | Shobhna | ||
| 1992 | Ek Ladka Ek Ladki | Renu / Rani | |
| Khule-Aam | Priya | ||
| Sahebzaade | Chinar | ||
| Laat Saab | Anju / Mona | ||
| 1993 | Parampara | Sapna | |
| 1995 | Santaan | Asha | |
| Antim Nyay | Seema A. Verma | ||
| 1996 | Ek Tha Raja | Shilpa | |
| Sauda | Jyoti | ||
| Aadithya | Neelam | Kannadafilm | |
| Zordaar | Anju Sharma | ||
| 1997 | Mohabbat Aur Jung | Priya | |
| 1998 | Kuch Kuch Hota Hai | VJ Neelam | Special appearance |
| 1999 | Hum Saath-Saath Hain: We Stand United | Sangeeta | |
| 2001 | Kasam | Bindiya |
Television
edit| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2020–present | Fabulous Lives of Bollywood Wives | Herself |
| 2022 | Masaba Masaba | Herself |
| 2023 | Made in Heaven | Kriti Malhotra |
References
edit- ^Sanjeeiv, Niharika (9 November 2022)."Samir Soni's Special Birthday Post For" Fabulous Wife "Neelam Kothari".www.ndtv.com.Retrieved18 October2024.
- ^"Neelam Interview 1987".23 April 2021.Archivedfrom the original on 3 June 2022.Retrieved3 June2022– viaYouTube.
- ^"This Fabulous Mother of Throwbacks, Shared by Neelam Kothari".Archivedfrom the original on 3 June 2022.Retrieved3 June2022.
- ^"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.Archivedfrom the original on 14 May 2018.Retrieved14 May2018.
- ^"NRI beauties making it big in Bollywood".window2india.com.Archived fromthe originalon 18 January 2009.Retrieved9 December2008.
- ^"Screen the Business of Entertainment-Films-Cover Story".Archived fromthe originalon 22 October 2008.Retrieved29 June2010.
- ^"We had loads to sort out before marriage: Neelam".The Times of India.25 January 2011.Archivedfrom the original on 25 June 2015.Retrieved4 October2015.
- ^"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.Archivedfrom the original on 6 March 2021.Retrieved5 March2021.
- ^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.Archivedfrom the original on 3 March 2021.Retrieved5 March2021.
{{cite web}}:|last=has generic name (help) - ^"Top 15 Jewellery Designers In India You Must Know".Jewellery Craze.11 July 2017. Archived fromthe originalon 10 June 2021.Retrieved27 December2018.
- ^"Spotlight - Neelam Jewels".verveonline.com.Archived fromthe originalon 1 March 2009.
- ^Pal, Dharam (9 January 1999)."On path to super success".The Tribune.Archivedfrom the original on 3 March 2016.Retrieved3 August2017.
- ^Vetticad, Anna M M (6 November 2000)."Actor Neelam Kothari and beau Rishi Sethia get married in Bangkok".India Today.Archivedfrom the original on 17 May 2018.Retrieved17 May2018.
- ^"Neelam Kothari splits with beau".Hindustan Times.6 November 2009.Archivedfrom the original on 18 May 2018.Retrieved17 May2018.
- ^Khera, Japleen (26 November 2020)."Neelam Kothari and Samir Soni: Marriage, Family, Kids, How Did They Meet?".The Cinemaholic.Archivedfrom the original on 15 April 2021.Retrieved2 April2021.
- ^"Samir Soni weds Neelam".Rediff.24 January 2011.Archivedfrom the original on 5 October 2011.Retrieved24 January2011.
- ^Maheshwri, Neha (2 September 2013)."Neelam and Samir Soni adopt a baby girl".The Times of India.Archivedfrom the original on 30 August 2016.Retrieved17 April2016.
- ^"Blackbuck case: Jodhpur HC adjourns hearing against Saif, Sonali, Tabu, Neelam after issuing fresh notice in May".The Economic Times.Archivedfrom the original on 9 May 2021.Retrieved1 April2021.
External links
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