Recently, actress-turned-reality TV star, Neelam Kothari talked about her lowest phase in life. She also revealed viewers' reaction to her vulnerability when talking about her depression on-screen.
Actress, Neelam Kothari shot to fame in the '80s with hit films like Ilzaam, Love 86, Khugarz, and Hatya, among others. Her iconic pairing with Govinda is one that is fondly remembered to this day. In 2001, Neelam took a break from Bollywood to focus on her family, jewellery business, and a more private life. However, she graced our screens once again in a show unlike anything she had ever done before. Yes, Neelam made her comeback in 2020 with the Netflix reality show, Fabulous Lives of Bollywood Wives, alongside Bhavana Pandey, Maheep Kapoor, and Seema Sajdeh. The actress, who gave viewers a glimpse into her life, opened up about the lowest phase of her life and revealed how other women had reacted to her being vulnerable on-screen.
Actress-turned-reality TV star, Neelam Kothari recently sat down for an interview with Hauterrfly. During the same, she was asked to address the lowest phase of her life that she had alluded to on the show. Talking about how everyone went through a low phase at some point in time, Neelam said:
"Everyone goes through a low phase, and we all have our own ways of dealing with stress and the phase of being low. People talk about mild depression and depression, I think everyone at some point has been depressed and we all overcome it. You move on."
In the same interview, Neelam Kothari talked about how her on-screen vulnerability had been perceived by audiences. The actress revealed feeling moved when women going through similar struggles reached out and praised her for being courageous enough to speak her truth in front of such a large audience. Neelam recalled:
"After I did that scene with Ekta where I came out and spoke openly, a lot of women have messaged me that it's so good that you came out and spoke the truth which takes so much courage. It also gives us the courage to see that a celebrity also goes through this and that we are going through this too but we don't know what to do. I get goosebumps still when I see the messages."
Neelam Kothari's current husband and actor, Sameer Soni, is well recognised. However, not everyone knows that she was earlier married to UK-based entrepreneur, Rishi Sethi. Neelam and Rishi tied the knot in 2001 but called it quits not long after, following a short but tumultuous marriage.
Neelam alluded to that trying period of her life for the first time during her stint on Fabulous Lives of Bollywood Wives. Now, after years of keeping mum about the trauma that she faced, Neelam has finally shared more about her experience. Earlier in an interview, Neelam recalled:
"I was told to wear Indian clothes and give up non-veg, and alcohol. I was fine with everything. I was also asked to change my name, and I did that, too. A lot of people do that. But, changing my identity? That is something I was not okay with. I reached a point where I questioned myself, 'How am I allowing this?' There were several times when I used to be in a supermarket or out on lunch, and someone would come up to me and ask, 'Are you Neelam the actress?' And I had to say, 'No, I am not Neelam."
What do you think about Neelam Kothari's revelations about her lowest phase and women reaching out to praise her for her vulnerability?
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