Neelam Kothari Denies Govinda Affair Rumors

Neelam Kothari, a prominent figure in Bollywood, has addressed persistent rumors linking her romantically with co-star Govinda. In January 2026, during a podcast appearance, Kothari firmly denied any affair, describing Govinda as a wonderful human being and attributing the persistent link-up stories to the media's practices in the pre-social media era.

Kothari also candidly discussed the reasons behind her divorce from her first husband, Rishi Sethia, whom she married in 2000. She revealed that after moving abroad, she faced pressure to alter her name, adopt traditional attire, and forgo certain personal choices like alcohol and non-vegetarian food. The actress felt a profound loss of identity, particularly when forced to deny her celebrity status.

The emotional toll of her divorce was further highlighted by an incident involving her adopted daughter, Ahana. Kothari became tearful recounting how Ahana discovered details of the divorce online, leading to a difficult and heartbreaking conversation. Kothari has since found happiness and is happily married to actor Samir Soni since 2011.