Neelam Kothari Denies 1990s Affair Rumours with Govinda: 'This Isn't True At All'
Bollywood actress Neelam Kothari has once again addressed and denied long-standing rumours of a romantic relationship with her frequent co-star Govinda during the 1990s. In a recent podcast appearance, Kothari firmly dismissed the speculation, calling it entirely untrue and media-created gossip.
Neelam's Firm Denial in Recent Podcast
During a conversation with Usha Kakade Productions, when asked about gossip surrounding her alleged infatuation with Govinda before marrying husband Sameer Soni, Kothari expressed surprise and stated, "O teri, who said this? Govinda ji bahut hi acchhe insaan hain, magar yeh jo sawaal hai, yeh sach nahi hai (Govinda is a good human being, but this question is not true)."
The Fabulous Lives of Bollywood Wives star continued, "He is a wonderful human being and we have done several hit films. But, this is not true. Sorry, sorry, but this isn't true at all. There's nothing between us."
History of On-Screen Chemistry and Off-Screen Speculation
Actors Govinda and Neelam Kothari's on-screen romance in popular films like Ilzaam and Love 86 (1986) quickly led to persistent link-up rumours in real life. The duo appeared together in numerous other movies including Khudgarz and Ghar Ka Chiraag, further fueling speculation about their relationship status.
While Govinda has previously admitted to being deeply attracted to Kothari in interviews, she has consistently dismissed these rumours multiple times over the years.
Neelam's Previous Comments on Media Speculation
In a 2024 interview with Hauterfly, when questioned about her relationship rumours with Govinda, Kothari had explained, "That was not... I think link-ups were part of the whole game. There was no one to clarify."
The 56-year-old actress further elaborated on the media environment of that era, stating, "They just printed whatever they felt like and, to be honest, I feel like in those days we were scared of the press. Because it was the power of the pen, and it was just part of it. If you did more than 2-3 films, it was just understood that... (you two must be together)."
Govinda's Past Admissions About His Feelings
In a 1990 interview with Stardust magazine, Govinda had openly admitted that after working on several films together, he developed strong feelings for Neelam Kothari. "We had so many films together. We met so often and the more I got to know her, the more I liked her. She was the kind of woman any man would have lost his heart to. I lost mine," he confessed.
The attraction reportedly reached such a level that Govinda even broke off his engagement to his current wife, Sunita Ahuja. "I asked Sunita to leave me. I broke off my engagement with her. And had Sunita not called me after five days and coaxed me into it again, I would probably have married Neelam. I wanted to marry her. And I don't think there's anything wrong with that," the actor revealed.
Current Relationship Status of Both Stars
Govinda married Sunita Ahuja in 1987 when he was 24 and she was 18. The couple has two children - daughter Tina and son Yashvardhan. Recently, their relationship has been under scrutiny after Sunita alleged Govinda's extra-marital affair with a younger woman.
Neelam Kothari initially married businessman Rishi Sethia in 2000, but the marriage ended in divorce shortly after. Following a brief relationship with actor Samir Soni, she married him in 2011. The couple adopted a daughter named Ahana in 2013.
Despite the persistent rumours spanning decades and Govinda's past admissions of attraction, Neelam Kothari maintains that there was never a romantic relationship between them, characterizing the speculation as unfounded media gossip from a different era of Bollywood journalism.
