Mumbai

Neelam Kothari Soni is best known as an actress and a jeweller. She is also a mother and believes her alternate personality could be a lawyer. Having ruled the box office in the 1980s with several hit films, Neelam had taken a break from the limelight in the 1990s and became a jewellery designer. She made a remarkable comeback to screen in 2020 with the Netflix reality show Fabulous Lives of Bollywood Wives and won over the audience with her charm.  The show's third season was aired recently which pit the four Mumbai stars against Delhi's three socialite women. The show has garnered a lot of buzz on social media ever since. 

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Neelam Kothari Soni opens up to WION about parenting tips, her favourite Bollywood wife, favourite brunch spots and jewellery brand.  

Who is your favourite Bollywood wife? What do you think of the Delhi girls on the show? 

My favourite Bollywood wife depends on my mood and situation. There’s one day when I want to kill Maheep and love Bhavana and others where I want to kill Seema and love Maheep. It depends on my mood. They are all my favourites. For Delhi, I don't feel close to any of them. I have spent some time with Riddhima before the show and our kids have also met a couple of times. Shalini and I have connected with on another level for spiritualism or skincare.  

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If not an actress, what would your alternate personality be? 

I think I would be a lawyer and I would be good at it. It’s the Scorpio in me. I like to analyse things and get to the bottom of them. The latest television show I watched was The Menendez Brothers. I enjoy watching true crime.  

How do you practice self-love?  

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I don’t consciously practice it. I don’t want to sound pompous but I feel truly humbled and believe God is kind. I love the way I am. Sometimes I sit in a room and imagine myself radiating. That’s what I do before I’m going somewhere and I’m nervous about the meeting. I just imagine myself like this. 

What has been the most profound and happy experience of your life?  

I think the profound and happy moment is yet to come. I want my daughter Ahana to truly validate me. My husband, parents, brother and in-laws all love me. My daughter loves me but I want her to truly validate me and the person I am since she’s Gen Z.  

What are three parenting tips you swear by when it comes to your daughter Ahana?  

I have three tips I swear by. The first is to be your child’s best friend. The second is to travel with your child since it helps them to truly connect with you. My daughter and I do a lot of these girls' trips together. You can go anywhere and travel helps to create that bond. And the third would be to keep a balance between both parents. Sameer helps Ahana with all the homework and he’s the smart one. I’m the one who plans trips with her. Like Sameer will take Ahana to Rishikesh and I’ll take her to Dubai.  

You have your own jewellery brand  - what are some experiences that have inspired your jewellery designs?  

A lot of my designs are inspired by nature - butterflies, flowers, leaves etc. I am also inspired by wildlife and I recently created a leopard-themed bracelet which sold out quickly. I have created art deco and Mughal designs as well along with a mix of modern take on them. I love coloured stones as well and they enhance the piece.  

What is your five-year plan?  

I don’t plan anything. I believe that life can’t be planned. With me - God has been kind. Everything has come to me without specifically planning it. After I joined films, I realised I’m an artist. That’s when I realised I want to do jewellery and it’s my calling. My family had a jewellery business in Hong Kong and the Middle East and I have started a jewellery business in Bombay from scratch.  

If a book was ever written about you - what would it be titled and why?  

Something related to the ever-changing phases of life. I feel like I came from a business family and went into films. Then, from films, I moved to jewellery. Then Karan decided to make Bollywood Wives, and my life shifted 360 degrees again. I also did a stint in interiors. I just see my life as ever-changing.  

What are your favourite brunch spots in Mumbai?  

I go to Torii a lot. Recently I was at Torii with Bhavana and Seema and many people came to our table. They came to our table to get photos and told us they came to Torii because they thought the Bollywood wives would be there.