Neelam Kothari on competing with Govinda in dance numbers: ‘I wanted to do my steps better than him'
Before stepping away from films in the early 2000s,
Neelam Kothari
was one of the most popular faces in Bollywood. Known for her elegance, charm, and memorable dance numbers, the actor starred in several successful films throughout the 1980s and 1990s. A big part of her cinematic journey was her frequent on-screen pairing with superstar
Govinda
. The duo appeared in 14 films together, delivering chart-topping songs and unforgettable performances.
Neelam on matching Govinda's dance energy
In a recent conversation with Femme Forward,
Neelam
opened up about her experience working with Govinda, particularly on dance sequences. She recalled, 'He was a fantastic dancer and we had a lot of hit songs. Sometimes when I go for events and interviews, they play some of my old songs and I am like 'Oh my god… I had so many
hit songs
with Govinda'.'
Neelam admitted that there was a sense of healthy competition between them when it came to nailing their dance steps. 'With Govinda, the thing was that I wanted to do my steps much better than him. So it was like hardcore competition. We had great songs and we wanted our dance moves to be perfect. We worked hard on those songs,' she shared.
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Dynamic unchanged even today
Despite not collaborating on films in recent years, Neelam says their off-screen rapport has remained the same. 'He used to speak to me in Hindi and I spoke to him in English and it is like that till today. When we met on
Indian Idol
recently, it was the same dynamic — he spoke in Hindi and I spoke in English. Some things don't change,' she said fondly.
Their electric chemistry on-screen often sparked dating rumours during the height of their careers. In an earlier interview with Hauterrfly, Neelam dismissed those speculations, saying, 'I think link-ups were part of the whole game. There was no one to clarify. 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 dating).'
Neelam Kothari Spotted At Bandra.
Neelam and Govinda delivered back-to-back hits including Love 86 (1986), Ilzaam (1986), Sindoor (1987), Khudgarz (1987), Hatya (1988), Farz Ki Jung (1989), Billoo Badshah (1989), Taaqatwar (1989), and Do Qaidi (1989).
Neelam's last film appearance was in Kasam (2001). She made a glamorous return to the limelight with Netflix's
Fabulous Lives of Bollywood Wives
in 2020. The third season of the reality series dropped in 2024, marking her continued presence in the world of entertainment.
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