Neelam Kothari is a former Bollywood actress who enjoyed substantial stardom in the late 1980s and 1990s. Her charming screen presence and appreciable acting skills got her much popularity in the celluloid, enlisting a number of hits in her film career. Apart from acting she always had an inclination for jewellery designing. However after retiring from her acting career, she completely engaged herself in jewellery designing, launching her own brand.

Early Life of Neelam Kothari
Neelam Kothari was born in Hong Kong on 3rd March 1968. During her childhood she received training in playing keyboard and dancing Jazz Ballet. She hails from a family where jewellery making is the traditional business and they are credited for producing some of the finest among them. After spending the early childhood in Hong Kong, Neelam moved to Bangkok with her family.

Film Career of Neelam Kothari
Neelam Kothari`s tryst with the entertainment world occurred while she went to Mumbai for a holiday. In the city she was approached by the director Ramesh Behl and subsequently decided to try her hands in acting. Thus she made her cinematic debut in the year 1984 with the film Jawaani in which she appeared alongside Karan Shah. The latter is the nephew of another popular actress Tina Munim. Although the film failed commercially, Neelam decided to move ahead with her acting career. The actress gained recognition and rose to fame with 1986 film Ilzaam in which she acted opposite to the debutant Govinda. In the following years she appeared in 14 movies alongside Govinda out of which many were hits including Do Qaidi, Taaqatwar, Farz Ki Jung, Hatya, Khudgarz, Sindoor and Love 86. She also starred with Chunkey Pandey in 8 hit Bollywood flicks out of which 5 were hits namely Mitti Aur Sona, Ghar Ka Chiraag, Khatron Ke Khiladi, Paap Ki Duniya and Aag Hi Aag. However among all these her 1989 film Ghar Ka Chiraag alongside Rajesh Khanna and Chunkey Pandey remained the biggest success of her career.

In 1990s her career enlisted only a few successful movies such as Shankara, Ranbhoomi, Banjaran, Parampara, Pratigyabandh and others. Later in 1998, she once again garnered limelight for her appearance in the movie Kuch Kuch Hota Hai in which she essayed the role of a VJ. She also starred in a supporting role in the 1999 multi-starrer film Hum Saath-Saath Hain: We Stand United. Kasam in 2001 was her last release. Neelam also appeared in Bina Mistry`s `Hot Hot Hot` music video. The song was a part of the compilation of dance hits in the 1995 BMG release, named Channel [V] Hits: The Ultimate Dance Collection. The song gathered much success and was also featured in the soundtrack of 2002 flick Bend It Like Beckham.

Jewellery Designing Career of Neelam Kothari
Neelam Kothari has always been interested and involved in her family business of jewellery designing. She is actively engaged in the same since long, including the period of her acting in films. She has completed a formal course in jewellery-designing from Mumbai. After quitting the celluloid in 2001, Neelam devoted herself entirely in jewellery-designing and began her work commercially under the name Neelam Jewels. In the year 2004 she opened a showroom in Mumbai and on 25th August 2011 launched her jewellery store in Mumbai under the name Neelam Kothari Fine Jewels.

Personal Life of Neelam Kothari
Neelam Kothari was previously married to Rishi Sethia who was the son of a businessman from the U.K. The marriage soon got dissolved. On 24th January 2011, she married the popular actor Samir Soni. After two years of marriage, on 2 September 2013, the couple adopted a baby girl and named her Ahana.

Filmography of Neelam Kothari