'She looked like a doll': Govinda opens up about his bond with Neelam Kothari and recalls their ‘Bawaal’ chemistry

Govinda ruled the 1990s with a series of blockbuster hits, becoming one of the biggest names in the industry. During that time, he was often linked to Neelam Kothari, sparking romance rumours despite his marriage. Recently, Govinda openly admitted that he shared a close bond with Neelam and was indeed attracted to her.

Govinda talks about his bond with Neelam

Speaking with Siddharth Kannan, when asked about his alleged affair with Neelam, Govinda 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).”

Govinda recalls admiring Neelam’s charm

Govinda mentioned that Neelam had a doll-like charm that deeply impressed him. Govinda recalled watching her films and whistling in admiration, never imagining that he would someday share the screen with her. He added that when she finally became his co-star, it felt almost unbelievable to him.

Govinda added, “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).”

Govinda’s confession from the past

Back in 1990, during an interview with Stardust, Govinda candidly expressed his admiration for Neelam. He shared, “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.”

Govinda and Neelam’s hit on-screen pairing

Govinda and Neelam were among Bollywood’s most popular on-screen duos during the 1980s and early 1990s. The pair appeared together in more than a dozen films, winning audiences over with their effortless chemistry. Some of their most memorable collaborations include ‘Love 86’ and ‘Ilzaam’ (1986), ‘Khudgarz’ and ‘Sindoor’ (1987), and several 1989 releases like ‘Farz Ki Jung’, ‘Billoo Badshah’, ‘Taaqatwar’, and ‘Gharana’.

Govinda’s current career status

On the work front, Govinda has kept a low profile from films for several years now. His last release, ‘Rangeela Raja’ in 2019, didn’t fare well at the box office, and he hasn’t taken on any projects since. Neelam, on the other hand, made a recent appearance on Netflix in 2024 with the third season of ‘Fabulous Lives of Bollywood Wives’, marking her continued presence in the entertainment space.Get the latest entertainment updates from the Times of India, along with the latest Hindi movies, upcoming Hindi movies in 2026 , and Telugu movies.”