For every '90s kid, their growing years wouldn't be the same without Hero No. 1 Govinda entertaining us with his trendsetting dance moves and whistle-worthy dialogues. Govinda was, is and will always be the King of expressions with epic comic timing, who gave flirting lessons to this generation. Actors come and go, but there will be no one like Govinda. But apart from his professional accolades, Govinda had made the headlines for his one-sided love with his Ilzaam co-star, Neelam Kothari. It was Neelam's 1986 film, Ilzaam, that left a mark in the audience's hearts for her sizzling chemistry with Govinda and soon, fans had started rooting for them as a real-life jodi. Neelam and Govinda had worked in 14 films together and in real life, he was head-over-heels-in-love with her.
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When Neelam Kothari and Govinda had shot for their film, Ilzaam, the friendship between the co-stars had blossomed into one-sided love. Though Govinda was smitten by Neelam's beauty when he had first seen her, he didn't neglect the fact that they were complete opposites. While Neelam was a foreign return, Govinda was a desi munda. Govinda and Neelam were a successful on-screen couple until the late '80s. However, their love had never taken off as Govinda was already committed to his wife, Sunita and Neelam wanted to focus on her career. Soon, Govinda and Neelam's relationship became a piece of history.
Neelam Kothari had left her acting career in 2001 but made a comeback in 2020 with the Netflix series, Fabulous Lives of Bollywood Wives. Neelam got married to actor, Samir Soni in 2011. Finally, after decades, Govinda and Neelam Kothari reunited on-screen for an episode of the dance reality show, Super Dancer 4. Samir posted a clip of the episode on his Instagram handle, with the caption, "And the 20 year wait is finally over. @neelamkotharisoni @govinda_herono1." Neelam replied to the video with an array of smiling emojis.
In 1987, Govinda had tied the knot with Sunita Ahuja in an intimate temple wedding ceremony, but for a while, he did not disclose the news in media because he had felt that it might adversely affect his career. In a throwback Stardust interview, revealing why he didn't tell his crush, Neelam Kothari about his marriage, Govinda was quoted as saying, "Neither did Neelam know about it. She got to know only after a year. I probably did not tell her because I did not want to break this successful screen pair. And to be honest, to a certain extent, I did exploit my personal relationship with Neelam for professional ends. I played dirty with her. I should have told her that I was married."
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Govinda was so smitten by Neelam Kothari that he used to talk about her to his wife, Sunita Ahuja and even compare them both. Govinda had also asked Sunita to change herself and become like Neelam. Elaborating on the same, Govinda had said, "I would tell Sunita to change herself and become like Neelam. I would tell her to learn from her. I was merciless. Sunita would get irritated. She would tell me, 'You fell in love with me because of what I am, don't ever try to change me'. But I was so confused. I didn't know what to own."
Recalling when he had taken his crush, Neelam Kothari to meet his family and their reactions on meeting her, Govinda had said, "I was never her cup of tea anyway. I am a ghati. An unpolished boor, and she's a Dresden doll. Clean, pure, polished and dignified. We would probably never have got along. My dad was very keen that I marry Neelam. He was very fond of her. She had even visited him with her family. Yes, she had come to Virar. Actually, I took her and her mother to see my father. And he was very happy. But my mother thought differently. She felt that since I had given my word to Sunita, I must honour it. And I knew that if I didn't do it, it would hurt her."
Revealing how he had once lost his temper on Sunita Ahuja when she said something about Neelam Kothari and had broken off their engagement, Govinda had recalled, "After I started getting busier, my relationship with Sunita went through a change. She began feeling insecure and jealous. And I was of no help. She would nag me and I would lose my temper. We had constant fights. In one of those fights, Sunita said something about Neelam, and I lost my head and called it quits. 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."
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Are you excited to see Govinda and Neelam back on screen together?
