When 'Merciless' Govinda Broke Engagement With Sunita Ahuja For Neelam Kothari
Speculation is rife that Bollywood actor Govinda and his wife, Sunita Ahuja, may be heading for divorce after 37 years of marriage.
Speculation is rife that Bollywood actor Govinda and his wife, Sunita Ahuja, may be heading for divorce after 37 years of marriage. The couple, who had known and dated each other before tying the knot, share a long history that predates Govinda's entry into the film industry.
When Govinda lost his heart to Neelam Kothari
Govinda made his Bollywood debut in 1986 with Love 86. It was during the filming of this movie that he met actor Neelam Kothari, with whom he shared undeniable chemistry. In a candid interview, Govinda had confessed to "losing heart" to Neelam and even revealed that his affection for her led him to break off his engagement with Sunita—a fact Neelam was unaware of at the time.
In a 1990 interview with Stardust, Govinda opened up about his feelings for Neelam, attributing their growing closeness to their frequent collaborations. “And we had so many films together. We met so often and the more I got to know her, the more I liked her... She was the kind of woman any man would have lost his heart to. I lost mine,” he had said.
Govinda and Sunita Ahuja's relationship
Govinda's relationship with Sunita remained a closely guarded secret within the film industry. However, Sunita was well aware of Neelam's influence on him. The actor admitted to openly praising Neelam to Sunita and even suggesting that Sunita change to be more like her, which naturally caused friction between them.
“I couldn’t stop praising her. To my friends, to my family. Even to Sunita, to whom I was committed. I would tell Sunita to change herself and become like Neelam. I would tell her to learn from her. I was merciless. Sunita would get irritated. She would tell me, ‘You fell in love with me because of what I am, don’t ever try to change me.’ But I was so confused. I didn’t know what to own,” Govinda had shared.
Govinda's romance with Sunita began before his Bollywood career took off, and he admitted that his initial involvement with her was a strategic move to gain experience in love. He also acknowledged leveraging his relationship with Neelam for professional advantages, expressing regret for not being upfront about his engagement.
At the peak of his confusion, Govinda seriously considered breaking things off with Sunita to pursue a future with Neelam. He recalled, “I asked Sunita to leave me. I broke off my engagement with her. And, had Sunita not called me after five days and coaxed me into it again, I would probably have married Neelam.”
What Neelam said about Govinda
In contrast, Neelam set the record straight in a 2024 interview with Hauterrfly, stating there was never a romantic relationship between her and Govinda. She attributed the rumours to the film industry's culture at the time, where working on multiple films together often sparked gossip about off-screen romances. The two shared the screen in films such as Love 86, Khudgarz, and Ghar Ka Chiraag.
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