Neelam Kothari Soni recently made a comeback with the Netflix series *Fabulous Lives of Bollywood Wives*. The actress, who starred in popular 90s films, shared the screen with big stars like Govinda, Salman Khan, Chunky Pandey, Aamir Khan, and Saif Ali Khan. In a recent interview, she recalled her experience working with Chunky Pandey on *Aag Hi Aag* in 1987, describing a mix of fondness and frustration.
“Chunky is a perfect friend now, and he was back then too,” Neelam said. “But, sometimes, I just wanted to kill him! As a newcomer, he often irritated me on set by taking his time. Everyone would be ready, the cameras were set, and yet we’d ask, ‘Where’s Chunky Pandey?’”
What really happened ?
Neelam shared a memorable incident from *Aag Hi Aag* involving Chunky. In one scene, her character was getting married to someone else, and Chunky’s character was supposed to interrupt the wedding, pick her up on a motorbike, and ride off with her. “I asked him at least 10 times if he knew how to ride a bike, and each time he said, ‘Of course.’ But he didn’t know! When he picked me up, he hit the accelerator so hard that the bike did a wheelie. I was in full bridal attire, and it was quite a scene!”
On the personal front, Neelam has been married to actor Samir Soni for 13 years, and together they’ve adopted a daughter.
Professionally, *Fabulous Lives of Bollywood Wives* has brought her back into the limelight. The series follows the glamorous lives of Neelam and her close friends Bhavna Pandey, Maheep Kapoor, and Seema Sajdeh. In the latest season, new personalities, including Riddhima Kapoor Sahni, Shalini Passi, and Kalyani Saha Chawla, join the cast, adding fresh dynamics to the show while retaining the original charm.
Neelam’s mix of nostalgia, humor, and warmth in her stories reflects her long-standing ties in Bollywood, making her return a delight for fans of her earlier work and new viewers alike.
