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Last Updated: November 22, 2024, 17:52 IST
Neelam Kothari denied ever having a romantic relationship with Govinda.
Govinda and Neelam were frequent collaborators.
Neelam Kothari has recently addressed the longstanding rumors regarding a romantic involvement with her former co-star, Govinda. The duo first appeared together in the film industry in 1986, becoming fan favorites due to their on-screen chemistry. Over the late 1980s and 1990s, Kothari and Govinda shared the screen in nearly 14 films. Despite allegations of a possible love affair, it is noted that Govinda was already in a marriage with Sunita Ahuja during this period. Although Govinda has previously expressed his admiration for Neelam, she has now clarified any misconceptions about their relationship.
In an interview with Hauterfly, Neelam reflected on the nature of link-up rumors in the industry, suggesting that such speculations were commonplace. “These link-ups were just part of the industry’s narrative. There was no one around to clarify the situation,” she explained. Neelam noted that during that era, the media wielded significant influence, which often made celebrities hesitant to address rumors directly. “If an actor starred in multiple films with another, it was simply presumed they were romantically involved,” she added.
A revealing interview from 1990, conducted by Stardust, featured Govinda discussing a pivotal moment in his life where he ended his engagement with Sunita to pursue a relationship with Neelam, stating, “I was quite taken by Neelam.” He described their differing social backgrounds yet a shared connection that grew through their many collaborations. “We became friends through the films we worked on together, and the more I knew her, the deeper my feelings grew. She was someone any man would find captivating; I was no exception,” he shared.
Govinda recounted a conflict with Sunita that prompted him to end their engagement, stating, “I asked Sunita to leave me, and I ended our engagement. Had she not reached out and persuaded me to reconsider, I might have chosen to marry Neelam.” He expressed his genuine intentions, saying, “I wanted to be with her, and there’s nothing wrong with that sentiment.”
However, as time passed, Govinda acknowledged that Neelam’s priorities lay primarily with her career. “She aspired to marry someone who was smart, affluent, and attractive, while I did not fit that image. I came from a lower-middle-class background, and our differences may have been too great to overcome. In hindsight, we likely wouldn’t have made it as a couple, and perhaps Neelam sensed this as well,” he reflected.
Currently, Neelam Kothari is happily married to Samir Soni, who she describes as extremely “mature, grounded, and practical.” On the professional front, she has made a notable return to the entertainment scene by participating in the reality series “Fabulous Lives of Bollywood Wives,” which is available for streaming on Netflix.
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