Neelam, a popular face from the ’80s and ’90s, made her showbiz comeback with a reality show on OTT. The series Fabulous Lives of Bollywood Wives brought her back into the spotlight, which translated into interesting opportunities. However, instead of speeding up on the career front, Neelam says she wants to slow down. The actress, who’s married to actor Samir Soni and has a daughter, Ahana, says she is keen to strike the right balance between work and family time.

Ask her why she isn’t encashing on the popularity of the show, and she replies, “See, when I first did season one of Fabulous Lives Of Bollywood Wives, I thought, ‘Well, this isn’t that bad, and I don’t mind continuing with the acting gig.’ But now, when I am getting offers and reading scripts, I have realized a few things. My daughter is 11, and she’s growing up, and I feel I’ve spread myself too thin. I’m also focussing on interiors and jewellery designing, and I feel Ahana needs her mum to be around. Earlier, I was raring to go and do web shows and films. I was all for it, but now I’ve changed my mind.”

The actress says she is keen on taking up work that doesn’t include long shifts. She shares, “I am happy to do projects that won’t consume too much of my time. I enjoyed working in Made In Heaven. Today, the industry has changed so much – it has become too demanding. Earlier, a shift would be from 9 am to 6 pm or 10 am to 2 pm. I’m not used to 12-hour shifts, which also require two hours of travelling, two hours of makeup time and then the 12-hour shoot. I was left wondering where my personal life went. That was a wake-up call. My daughter is my priority right now, so the guilt seeps when I’m hardly home.”

Neelam is glad to have received so much love from the industry and the audience, especially at this point in her life.

She says, “Sometimes I pinch myself to believe that this is really happening. In the ’80s and ’90s, I did over 40 films. I was very successful. Now, to witness all the limelight once again is unbelievable, especially when it is coming back to me at this age. For an actor who started out at 16 and is now 55, to be relevant is surreal. I did this show, and things changed completely for me. It’s all thanks to Karan Johar. When I go to events now and see people recognizing me, it takes me back to my earlier life all over again.”

Neelam, who was seen in films like Love 86 (1986), Aag Hi Aag (1987), Hatya (1988), Parampara (1993) and Hum Saath Saath Hain (1999), admits that she was sceptical to make a comeback.

She says, “Back then, I left the industry because I felt my shelf life was over, and I didn’t like the films I was being offered. It was Karan (Johar) who approached me for the show. In this age of social media, I thought I’d be trolled if I returned to acting. I was conscious. When I left films, I was almost 30. That was the last time people saw me on screen, and making a comeback in my 50s was a little daunting. But Karan and my husband, Samir, helped me calm down and pushed me to go for it, and here I am.”

In the 80s and 90s, Neelam Kothari Soni featured in several hit films, including Jawaani, Ilzaam and Khudgarz. The actress wowed the audience with her innocence, charm and pretty looks and enjoyed a huge fan following back in the day. Her on-screen chemistry with Govinda was much talked about, as were their dance moves. And then one day, just like that, she was done with Bollywood. In a chat with BT, Neelam gave us a sneak peek into how her life has transformed over the years and her plans for the future. Read on…

Today, a successful jewellery designer, Neelam has made a name for herself beyond showbiz. But the decision to quit movies and don the businesswoman’s suit, how did that happen? The actress replies, “Frankly speaking, I wasn’t too excited about taking up the kind of roles I was being offered. That’s when I thought that it was time to quit gracefully. While acting in movies, I simultaneously made a conscious effort to learn about my family business, jewellery. That was always my fallback option and something I always knew I would pursue eventually.”

Looking back at her last two big-screen outings, she says, “Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (KKHH) and Hum Saath Saath Hain (HSSH) happened after I had quit acting. Karan Johar, who is a dear friend, told me, ‘Look, you are playing yourself. It’s a cameo appearance. It will be fun’, and that was that. Little did I know that The Neelam Show I did in KKHH would be such a big hit. In fact, the younger generation knows me from KKHH. Filmmaker Sooraj Barjatya was extremely keen on having me on board for the part in HSSH.”

Neelam says, “I told him (Sooraj Barjatya) that I wasn’t doing movies anymore, but he was sweet enough to persuade me. So, I may have done 40 films, but I am recognized for my last two screen outings (smiles!). I was looking after my jewellery business, which I continue to do to date. I hadn’t expected Karan to approach me again with a web series. He has a knack for bringing me back (laughs!). It’s just been great since then.”

Recalling how being an actress in the 90s was ‘just about being there’, Neelam says “When I had started, I was so young and was unfortunately stereotyped. The industry was also very different back then. Films would largely be about the hero. Today, actresses get to be the hero in their films! The kind of roles that are written and the films that are being made now are so diverse! Look at the content out there on the digital platforms, especially the homegrown ones. A large chunk of it is women-oriented. I think it’s a great time to be an actor. I wish I was acting now.”

The actress is particularly impressed with the kind of content being explored in the film industry today. She says, “There is great content being made, offering so much scope to an artiste to perform and explore now. I have already shot a portion of a project, which I am not at liberty to disclose yet. I was also offered another project, which I had to decline as they wanted me to shoot abroad for 45 days. I didn’t want to stay away from my family — my husband (Samir Soni) and daughter (Ahana) — for long in the middle of the pandemic. My priority and passion continue to be my family, and of course, jewellery designing. However, if something good comes my way, I will evaluate it and take it up if it piques my interest, but it’s not the be-all and end-all.”

Not having faced the camera for a long time did make her a tad nervous about going back to the shooting floors, but the encouragement she got from her recent work has given her the much-needed push. “I had apprehensions about facing the camera again because I hadn’t done it in a long time. But the feedback, love and admiration I received for the web series and an appearance on the reality show Super Dancer on social media was overwhelming. That gave me a lot of confidence and belief that there are people who still remember and love me. It’s been a real boost,” signs off the actress.