Veteran Bollywood actor Govinda has reflected on his close bond with former co star Neelam Kothari revealing that he was strongly attracted to her when they worked together in multiple films during the late 1980s and early 1990s.
In a recent interview with Siddharth Kannan, Govinda spoke candidly about their chemistry recalling how Neelam’s personality and charm left a lasting impression on him.
During the conversation Govinda admitted that he found Neelam extremely charming when they first met. According to him, her personality stood out and instantly caught his attention.
He said that many young men from small towns were naturally drawn to women who seemed very different from them and Neelam’s elegance made her particularly attractive. The actor described her as someone who looked “like a doll,” adding that her graceful personality made her even more appealing.
Govinda also recalled how he used to admire her even before they began working together. Watching her on screen he never imagined that one day he would share the screen with her as a co-star. When that eventually happened it felt almost unbelievable to him.
Reflecting on their rapport, Govinda said that relationships and rumours in the film industry were very different back then. He explained that the idea of romance in those days was often subtle and mostly expressed through admiration rather than overt gestures.
According to him, their pairing created a lot of buzz at the time. “Hum bawaal machate the” he said, suggesting that their on-screen chemistry generated plenty of excitement among audiences. He also emphasised that the focus remained on their work noting that many of their films and songs became major hits.
Govinda and Neelam were among the most popular on screen pairs of their time. The two actors appeared together in several films many of which performed well at the box office.
Some of their well-known collaborations include Love 86 and Ilzaam followed by films such as Khudgarz and Sindoor.
They also shared screen space in multiple releases in 1989, including Farz Ki Jung, Billoo Badshah, Taaqatwar and Gharana. Their energetic chemistry and entertaining songs often made them a favourite among audiences.
Govinda has largely stayed away from films in recent years. He was last seen in Rangeela Raja which did not perform well at the box office.
Neelam, meanwhile stepped away from mainstream cinema years ago and later returned to the spotlight through the Netflix reality show Fabulous Lives of Bollywood Wives where she appeared in its third season released in 2024.
Even decades later, the pair continues to be remembered for their lively on screen chemistry and the memorable films they delivered together during one of Bollywood’s most vibrant eras.