Neelam Kothari Soni is an Indian jewellery designer and actress, 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 was born in Hong Kong. She is a Gujarati-Iranian.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.She decided to give acting a shot and signed for the film Jawaani (1984) alongside Karan Shah, Tina Munim’s nephew.But the film was unsuccessful commercially.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.In 2020, she starred in a reality television series Fabulous Lives of Bollywood Wives which was streamed on Netflix.
In October 2000, Neelam married Rishi Sethia, the son of a businessman from the UK. They got divorced soon after. After a brief relationship with actor Samir Soni,she married him in 2011. After 2 years of marriage, in 2013, they adopted a daughter and named her Ahana.
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.
Neelam Kothari All Movie List :
| Title | Role | Year |
| Jawaani | Sanam | 1984 |
| Ilzaam Andaz Pyar Ka Love 86 | Aarti Esha | 1986 |
| Aag Hi Aag Khudgarz | Aarti Jyoti | 1987 |
| Taaqatwar Hatya Waqt Ki Awaz Ghar Mein Ram Gali Mein Shyam Khatron Ke Khiladi Paap Ki Duniya Sindoor | Bijli Sapna Dancer, Singer Jaya Sunita Aarti Lalita Kapoor | 1988 |
| Gharana Do Qaidi Ghar Ka Chiraag Hum Bhi Insaan Hain Mitti Aur Sona | Lalita Neelu Kiran Rekha Anupama | 1989 |
| Vishnu Devaa Mandira Badnam Shankara Doodh Ka Karz Upkar Dhoodhache Chor Pe Mor Amiri Garibi Agneepath Zakham Billoo Badshah Farz Ki Jung Dost Garibon Ka | Kajol Seema Reshma Reshma Ritu Jyoti Siksha Chavan Aarti Jyoti Kavita Rekha | 1990 |
| Kasak Meet Mere Man Ke Ranbhoomi Indrajeet Afsana Pyaar Ka | Divya Neelam Neelam Nikita | 1991 |
| Ek Ladka Ek Ladki Khule-Aam Sahebzaade Laat Saab | Renu / Rani Priya Chinar Anju / Mona | 1992 |
| Parampara | Sapna | 1993 |
| Santaan Antim Nyay | Asha Rekha | 1995 |
| Ek Tha Raja Sauda Aadithya | Shilpa Jyoti | 1996 |
| Mohabbat Aur Jung | Priya | 1997 |
| Kuch Kuch Hota Hai | VJ Neelam | 1998 |
| Hum Saath-Saath Hain | Sangeeta | 1999 |
| Pattar Aur Payal | 2000 | |
| Kasam | Bindiya | 2001 |
| Fabulous Lives of Bollywood Wives | Herself | 2020 |
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