After more than two decades in films, Samir Soni finds himself at a crossroads. In a recent post, he made it clear that he no longer wishes to remain on the sidelines. “I would rather quit acting than play a good brother, husband, father or any other supporting role. After waiting for over 25 years, it’s my time to play the lead now,” he wrote.

The candid admission reflects a long-building restlessness. Despite being part of notable films like the recent Khuli Kitaab and sharing screen space with some of the industry’s biggest names, Samir says his journey has often felt constrained. “How long will I continue to do supporting roles?” he asks — a question that, by his own account, has lingered for years.

One of his earliest setbacks came with his debut film, China Gate, where much of his role was cut during editing. “On the editing table, my whole role got chopped off,” he recalls. The experience, he says, set a pattern. “The worst part if anything happens on the editing table, the first thing that goes is the supporting character,” he says.

The actor remembers a formative piece of advice from the late Om Puri that shaped his understanding of the craft. “He said, ‘We are supporting actors. Our job is to support the main protagonist and antagonist, to prop up the main leads.’”

While he acknowledges this reality, he admits it can be frustrating. “There’s not that much importance given to the supporting cast. Their job is to make sure the main leads shine,” shares Samir.

Over the years, he has worked alongside stalwarts, holding his own in scenes. Yet, he feels that hasn’t translated into substantial roles. “If indeed I’m that good to stand my own against big actors, how come no one thinks of backing me with a decent character which has more depth?” he asks. Even when he delivers, he adds, the final cut often sidelines his contribution. “You’re just there to be the catalyst to move them forward.”

He sums up his career with a striking cricket analogy: “I’m like a 12th man who never gets to bat. I’ll be in every team but I never get to play a match.” Despite the frustration, Samir remains grateful for the opportunities he has had. “Not many people can boast of playing the son to Amitabh Bachchan and Hema Malini, and years later to Pankaj Kapur and Dimple Kapadia,” he says.

What he now seeks are layered, emotionally complex roles. “I like roles which have more angst, more layered, more complete,” he says, adding, “even non-lead parts can leave a lasting impact if written well.”

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.

A step for justice or needless vilification? We ask celebs who have been vocal about the Sushant Singh Rajput case
HINDUSTAN TIMES (September 10, 2020)

Supporting The Arrest


Kamya Panjabi
I saw people celebrating on social media that ‘she’s been arrested for drug abuse, not murder’, but drug abuse is illegal, too! If they don’t arrest her, what message will they give to the youth? Also, Rhea kya doodh peeti bacchi hai ki drugs laane ke liye force kar diya? The said person is not here to defend himself, you can say just anything. Now you will say ki muh mein drugs daal diya tha.


Samir Soni
There isn’t any other way of looking at it. This case has become like a can of worms, which started off with how did Sushant die. The drug aspect can’t be ignored, the underworld dealings and stuff. We gave local authorities almost two months to figure out, we should give CBI, NCB and ED at least a few months. I am happy with the way the case is going. It won’t be comfortable for a lot of people perhaps, but it is what it is.


Shekhar Suman
As per NCB’s investigation, Rhea was procuring drugs and was in touch with peddlers, so the arrest is justified. But whether she is connected to a cartel is yet to be proven. The drug angle can be a parallel investigation... We should focus on the primary investigation of the reason behind Sushant’s death. The general sentiment was that Rhea should be arrested, but I feel the media trial was not correct. We should shut up now and let the agencies do their job.

Against The Arrest


Swara Bhasker
Rhea’s being targeted in a media trial fuelled by a social media lynch mob, led by people with their own agendas. She’s being made a scapegoat for voyeuristic pleasure. I’ve always maintained that the law of the land must be allowed to function in a rational and impartial manner. And as far as I know, Rhea is cooperating with all the investigations.


Sayani Gupta
It’s unbelievable what’s happening with Rhea and her family. There’s not an iota of empathy. We have a judiciary for a reason. If she’s proven guilty, punish her, but this isn’t the way. This witch hunt must stop. It seems people have already made up their mind that she’s guilty. Let law take its course.


Hansal Mehta
I stand in solidarity with Rhea. I am as pained as I’d be about my own child. It’s disturbing to see such harassment and misogyny that has failed us, as a society. All the top agencies of the country have been working on the case but still nothing has been proven. It’s also painful to hear someone casually saying that the entire industry does drugs.

The actor talks about his close friend Samir Sharma, whose death by suicide has left him shattered
Tanvi Trivedi (BOMBAY TIMES; August 8, 2020)

Actor Samir Sharma’s death by suicide has left his friends in the industry devastated. Samir Soni, who was a very close friend of his, was in a state of shock when we contacted him on Thursday. Though yet to come to terms with the news, he spoke to BT, yesterday.

Soni said, “He was very creative and intelligent, and over the years, we have had some interesting conversations. He was passionate about music and wouldn’t sleep for days if he was composing something. He also wrote poetry, and he used to share his music and poems with me.”

They had first met on the sets of the TV show, Dil Kya Chahta Hai, more than a decade ago. Soni recalled, “Though we became friends almost instantly, we lost touch over the years. It’s only in 2019 that we reconnected again. Like I said, he was a crazy genius and he had his highs and lows. As a friend, I have always supported him, whenever he needed me. Samir was a great guy and a gentleman in the true sense.”

The two had met last week. Narrating an incident, Soni said, “In June, he had borrowed my car to go to Pune. Unfortunately, he met with an accident on the way, but did not inform me. A few days later, the police informed me that they had found my car by the side of the road. However, when I asked Samir about it, he denied meeting with an accident. I didn’t prod him further. Almost a month passed and I started feeling that all was not well with him. So, last week, I visited him at his Malad residence. That’s when he apologized for the accident, and I told him that it was okay. Since he was not feeling well that day, I left within a few minutes. And then, a few days later, I hear that he has hanged himself in his flat! I kept crying all day after I heard the news. I still can’t believe that he has gone from our lives. I just wish he had reached out to someone if he was going through personal issues.”

Rishabh Suri (HINDUSTAN TIMES; July 22, 2020)

“I was trolled by so many of Kangana Ranaut’s fans. I thought I had made my point, but there were so many saying all kinds of stuff, so I said there’s no point carrying on with it, I took it off. Not that I think I wrote anything wrong,” says actor Samir Soni when asked about what prompted him to delete his Instagram post he put up on Sunday.

Soni had hit out at Ranaut for her recent interview on actor Sushant Singh Rajput’s death. “... I’m against anyone (including Kangana) who are using his death to settle their own personal scores. Deplorable… Stop shooting your gun off a poor dead man’s shoulder...” he wrote.

Talking about what made him write this in the first place, the actor, 51, says, “My personal opinion, which differs from a lot of people, was that stories around Sushant’s mental health are extremely valid, given the number of suicides we have among youngsters. I thought that should have been discussed (in the TV interview). But Kangana just hijacked the whole thing, and people went on a witch hunt against certain names holding them responsible ignoring the main issue of mental health that should have been the focus.”

Soni felt that the reason behind the drastic step Rajput took was ‘worth examining’ as it could have helped a lot of people.

The deleted post, he says, did garner some support. He adds that the way Ranaut spoke, made him feel that she had “issues” with all the people she mentioned in her interview, and she was “using Rajput’s death to get even”.

He explains, “I’m not saying Sushant wasn’t under pressure. So, what a responsible person would have done is — attack these people, fair enough — but also explore other possibilities.”

Soni admits he got “really upset” when Ranaut levelled allegations against a host of people including Javed Akhtar, Mahesh Bhatt and Aditya Chopra. “It was just ‘me, myself and I’. It came down to Mahesh Bhatt throwing chappals, Javed Akhtar saying suicide… it has become a tamasha,” asserts the actor, who was part of a debate on the same news channel a day after Ranaut’s interview.

Soni, responding to writer Apurva Asrani’s tweet that he “lied on the news” about Rajput’s psychiatrist calling him bipolar, says that he didn’t make it up. “Just google it. Even if he wasn’t bipolar, it’s at least worth examining what he was being treated for. It’s not like I fabricated. I said if this is one of the stories that came out, isn’t it good journalism to at least enquire? Let’s assume those stories are wrong, he wasn’t bipolar, the doctor wasn’t treating him. Even then we know he was being treated for depression or some mental issues. We should just explore that,” he says.

Kavita Awaasthi (HINDUSTAN TIMES; June 24, 2020)

Actor Sushant Singh Rajput’s sudden death affected people in showbiz in many ways. Some spoke about nepotism while others discussed mental health. Actor Samir Soni was disturbed, too, and made a shocking admission in an Instagram post. “It could have very easily been me,” he wrote.

Explaining his post, Soni, 51, says, “I understand the pressures of showbiz, which is why I wrote that. This business is unpredictable... It can get frustrating if after working non-stop, you have no work for months. One hit makes you famous, but give a few flops and people might forget you.”

The writer-director cites examples in the industry such as late actor Rajesh Khanna and actor Kumar Gaurav — both had major highs and lows in their careers. “In a low phase, sometimes one can’t see light beyond the darkness. You wait for that one phone call which can change your career. I have been there and so I could relate to the darkness. One has to be very strong mentally to survive in this business. It is not just about talent... It is a business at the end of it all,” he says, adding, “I’d tell young actors to act because you enjoy it, but be prepared for the long wait between projects. too. Even now, due to Coronavirus, a number of films will suffer and so will the careers of many actors, filmmakers and technicians.”

Soni debuted with Rajkumar Santoshi’s China Gate (1998) but his career didn’t pan out as expected. “When I was launched in a huge film, I was told I had a bright future, but once the film flopped, I didn’t get any work. My first marriage, too, fell apart... It happened so fast, I didn’t have time to react. I’d get panic attacks. For almost a year, I’d stay at home in bed... I was in counselling for two years,” he shares. Later, he thought Baghban (2003), which was a super hit, would translate into a lot of work, but it didn’t. “I didn’t get any film for three months, but this time I was stronger... I am glad I decided to transition into TV and saw success in Jassi Jaisi Koi Nahin. I did a number of films including Vivah (2006), Fashion (2008) and many TV shows such as Parichay, and web shows including Puncch Beat, too. I am happy with my career and life,” adds Soni.