Neelam Kothari reveals she didn’t know Govinda was married; she says strict parents kept her away

Bollywood veteran Neelam Kothari has finally spoken out about the long‑standing whispers that she once shared a romantic connection with actor Govinda in the 1980s and early 1990s. In a recent interview with Times Now, the former star clarified that she was unaware of Govinda’s marital status at the time of their on‑screen collaborations, adding that her parents were very strict and would not have permitted any relationship.

“I was too young. I didn’t know that he was married. I learned about it later. I was too young, and I had very strict parents. So a relationship was never an option. I was always accompanied by a family member because I was very young. It wasn’t because the industry was a bad place,” Neelam explained, emphasizing that her youth and parental oversight were the main reasons for keeping her distance.

Her husband, actor Samir Soni, also addressed the rumours, stating that he was unconcerned about what might have happened two decades ago. “Something that may or may not have happened 20 years ago – I don’t know about it. So how can I hold on to it? He still claims he was madly in love with you,” Soni remarked, indicating that the speculation has no bearing on his current life.

In contrast, Govinda’s own statements from a 1990 Stardust interview paint a different picture. He admitted that he had broken off his engagement to Sunita Ahuja, who is now his wife, because he wanted to marry Neelam. Govinda said, “We met so often and the more I got to know Neelam, the more I liked her. She was the kind of woman any man would have lost his heart to. I lost mine. I couldn’t stop praising her. To my friends, to my family. Even to Sunita, to whom I was committed.” He went on to say he had asked Sunita to leave him and that he would have married Neelam had she not coaxed him back into the engagement.

These revelations come at a time when Govinda and Sunita are reportedly experiencing a rough patch, with both parties openly criticizing each other in public. The comments from Neelam, Samir Soni, and Govinda add new layers to the decades‑old speculation surrounding the Bollywood trio.