Govinda was one of the biggest Bollywood actors in 1990s. He has delivered many hit films during that period. However, apart from his successful career, his personal life also attracted attention. At the peak of his fame, Govinda was often linked with his co-star Neelam Kothari. Rumours suggested the two shared a close bond even though Govinda was already married to Sunita Ahuja.
Now, years later, the actor has spoken openly about his admiration for Neelam in an interview with Siddharth Kannan. Read on to know what he said!
Govinda Confesses He Liked Neelam Kothari
During the interview, Govinda admitted that he liked Neelam and was attracted to her personality. Speaking about that phase of his life, he said, “Dekhiye hum sab jitne youngsters, jo gaon type ka hote hain, unn sabhi ke liye goriyan bahut achi lagti hain (See all of us village folk, we like fair women) Yeh jo opposite attraction hai na, yeh hua karta hai. (This attraction for someone who is the opposite kind, this happens.) She was different and such a good girl. Aise lagta tha jaise doll hai. (She looked like a doll).”
The actor also shared that he admired Neelam long before they worked together. He recalled watching her films and cheering for her from the audience. According to Govinda, he even whistled while watching her on screen and never imagined that one day she would become his co-star.
When they finally worked together, he said the experience felt unbelievable. Their chemistry soon became popular with audiences, and they went on to appear in several successful films together.
Govinda also spoke about how relationships were seen differently in those days. He explained that things were not as complicated as they are today. He said, “Uss time pe… Abhi yeh jaise affairs hote hain, vaise toh hote nahi the. Hum bawaal machate the… Ho gaya, lag raha hai chal raha hai. Pehle vala romance hota tha, voh dekhne maatr ka tha. Kitna acha kaam kar paye na hum log. Har film dekhiye… gaane superhit, filmein hit. (Back then, affairs were not like how they are today. We would make a lot of noise… We would think something is happening. Back then, romance was about just looking at each other. We got to do such good work together. See, every film was a hit and the songs were hits).”
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Interestingly, Govinda had spoken about his admiration for Neelam earlier as well. In a 1990 interview with Stardust, he said, “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.”
Sunita Ahuja’s Reaction To Affair Rumours
Over the years, rumours about Govinda’s personal life have often caused tension. Reports from the late 1990s and early 2000s claimed that Sunita Ahuja was deeply upset when gossip linked Govinda with actress Rani Mukerji. According to reports from that time, Sunita was shocked by the news and even left home with her children for a while. However, the couple eventually resolved their differences and continued their marriage.
In recent interviews, Sunita has also spoken openly about rumours surrounding her husband. She has said she will take strict action only if she catches him “red-handed”. At the same time, she has admitted feeling “narazgi” (upset) about the ongoing speculation.
In one of her blunt remarks, she even joked about having the strength of Sunny Deol’s famous “2.5 kg hand” while warning anyone trying to interfere in her marriage.
Govinda And Neelam’s Hit Film Pairing
Govinda and Neelam were one of the most popular on-screen pairs of the late 1980s and early 1990s. Their chemistry impressed audiences and helped several films become hits. Some of their well-known films include Love 86 and Ilzaam. They also worked together in successful films like Khudgarz and Sindoor. In 1989 alone, the pair appeared in films such as Farz Ki Jung, Billoo Badshah, Taaqatwar and Gharana.
While Govinda has stayed away from films in recent years, he was last seen in Rangeela Raja, which released in 2019. The film did not perform well at the box office. Meanwhile, Neelam recently appeared in the Netflix reality show Fabulous Lives of Bollywood Wives in 2024.
Even today, fans continue to remember Govinda and Neelam’s films fondly, as their pairing remains one of Bollywood’s most memorable on-screen combinations.
