Neelam (Hindi)
March 3, 1968
Hong Kong Other name(s) :Sangeeta Occupation :Actress, Jewellery Designer Years active :1984 - 2001 (retaired as an actress) Spouse(s) :Rishi Sethia (divorced)
Personal life and education
Neelam was born and spent her early childhood in Hong Kong, before her family shifted to Bangkok. She learnt Ballet for 5 years in Hong Kong. The family has a traditional jewellery making business.
She got married to Rishi Sethia, son of a rich businessman from U.K despite opposition from Rishi's family. They married in Hong Kong, but divorced.
She also dated Bobby Deol. It is rumored that Govinda, her co-star in many films had a crush on her, and pursued her for a long time before he finally gave up. [1]
She is very close to Sanjay Kapoor's wife - Maheep Kapoor and is regularly seen in the Mumbai Page 3 circle with her other close friends Ekta Kapoor, Sunita Menon, Bhavna Pandey and Farah Khan. [2]
Movie career
After her early childhood in Hongkong, her family moved to Bangkok and Neelam was holidaying in Mumbai and was approached by Ramesh Behl. [3]She decided to give it a shot and did Jawaani in 1984 alongside Karan Shah (Tina Munim's nephew), but the film became a flop.[4]. She soldiered on ahead and became famous in 1986 in the film Ilzaam opposite another debutante Govinda. She went on to make a regular pairing with Govinda in movies such as Love 86 (1986), Khudgarz (1987), Hatya (1988), Taaqatwar (1989) and Do Qaidi (1989).
Since then she made many other movies in the late 1980s wit mixed success. She is also noted for her appearance in the 1998 movie Kuch Kuch Hota Hai where she appeared as herself in the movie playing a VJ. In 1999 she appeared in the multi-starrer family film Hum Saath-Saath Hain: We Stand United.
Her most recent release was Kasam in 2001.
Jewellery Designing
Even while pursuing her career in acting, she was into jewellery designing and was involved in the family busimess. She did a formal course in Mumbai and after saying goodbye to films in 1999, she started her out commercially on her own under the name of Neelam Jewels. [5] She opened her showroom in Mumbai in 2004 and has never looked back since.[6]
Movies
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Kasam | ||
| 1999 | Hum Saath-Saath Hain: We Stand United | Sangeeta | |
| 1998 | Kuch Kuch Hota Hai | Herself VJ Neelam | |
| 1997 | Mohabbat Aur Jung | ||
| 1996 | Ek Tha Raja | ||
| Sauda | |||
| 1995 | Santaan | ||
| Antim Nyay | |||
| 1992 | Parampara | Sapna | |
| Ek Ladka Ek Ladki | Renu/Rani | ||
| Khule Aam | |||
| 1991 | Sahebzaade | ||
| Kasak | |||
| Banjaran | |||
| Dharam Sankat | |||
| Ranbhoomi | |||
| Indrajeet Neelam | |||
| Afsana Pyar Ka | |||
| 1990 | Vishnu Devaa | ||
| Shankara | |||
| Doodh Ka Karz | |||
| Chor Pe Mor | |||
| Amiri Garibi | |||
| Agneepath | Siksha Chavan | ||
| Zakhm | |||
| Biloo Badshah | |||
| Farz Ki jung | |||
| Dost Garibon Ka | |||
| Gharana | |||
| 1989 | Do Qaidi | ||
| Ghar Ka Chirag | |||
| Hum Bhi Insaan hain | |||
| Mitti Aur Sona | |||
| 1988 | Taaqatwar | ||
| Hatya | |||
| Ghar Mein Ram Gali Mein Shyam | |||
| Khatron ki Khiladi | |||
| Paap Ki Duniya | |||
| Siyasat | |||
| Sindoor | |||
| 1987 | Aag Hi Aag | ||
| Khudgarz | |||
| 1986 | Ilzaam | ||
| Andaz Pyar Ka | |||
| Love 86 | |||
| 1984 | Jawani | Debut |
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