It was on the reality TV series Fabulous Lives Of Bollywood Wives when actor Neelam Kothari mentioned that no matter when she makes her acting comeback, one thing was for certain: she would not kiss on screen. Therefore, many were taken by surprise when the recent web show, Made In Heaven 2, had a lip-lock scene featuring Kothari and her husband, actor Samir Soni.

Revealing that it was director Zoya Akhtar’s idea, Kothari tells us, “Zoya said, ‘I know you don’t kiss and you are apprehensive about it, but there’s a kissing scene in the episode.’ My antennae instantly went up and I said, ‘Oh my God, no. That’s not going to happen.’ She told me, ‘Calm down, you will be kissing your own husband’. That convinced me a bit.”

In fact, Kothari feels this was a “clever and brilliant casting” call. “If it was anyone other than Samir, I don’t know if I would have been able to do justice to that scene. Coming back to acting after so many years and then kissing, too... I don’t think I would have been comfortable with any other actor,” admits the 53-year-old.

Another reason for her change of heart, the actor tells us, is that she realises the need to adapt to the changing times. A popular name in the ’90s with films such as Sauda (1995) and Hum Saath Saath Hain (1999), she says, “A lot has changed now [in terms of what is accepted on-screen]. When I was doing movies, kissing on screen was a big thing. Back in the ’80s and ’90s, for me to do it was out of the question... But now, times have changed. And since it was with my husband, I didn’t think there was anything wrong with it.”

After quitting acting two decades ago, she started her jewellery business. Now, having made her return to the screen with two web projects, she reflects on how the medium has proven to be a blessing for artistes who are returning after a sabbatical: “When I got comfortable with my space and was just doing business, OTT opened up a lot of avenues. After Fabulous Lives..., many opportunities have come my way. It is like a second innings for me.”