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'All that matters is the role'

She was famous for her dancing style and her successful on-screen pairing with Govinda. She had starred with him in his first hit, Ilzam. They went on to do many more films together, like Love '86, Khudgarz and his home production, Hatya. Things were looking hunky-dory as far as Neelam was concerned when, suddenly, she dropped out of the race.

Only to return, months later, as a popular and highly successful veejay on a major music television channel. And disappear again, when she was at the peak of her popularity.

She concentrated on her father's jewellery business until one saw her return to the limelight in Sooraj Barjatya's blockbuster Hum Saath-Saath Hain. Only her role, this time, was not that of the lead actress, but that of the heroes's sister.

Why did she choose to come back with a character role? Will she now appear only in character roles?

Neelam tackled these and other issues in our 5 Questions...

Did you accept Hum Saath-Saath Hain only because it was a Sooraj Barjatya film?

Honestly speaking, I was ecstatic. But since it was a sister's role, I was also a little apprehensive and took my time giving them an answer. What influenced me was not the fact that Sooraj had made the offer, but that the role was so tempting. Also, I did want to work with Sooraj and he assured me about the importance of the role. He was right, I didn't get a raw deal at all. My role has shaped up the way I wanted it to be.

You had a successful run as both an actress and a veejay. Then why did you return to acting with a character role? Are you not afraid of being typecast?

The way I look at it, the role was interesting and it was not cliched. Had it been a normal, cliched type of role, I wouldn't have done it at all. The kind of importance it had, and the kind of treatment the director gave it, was good. That is what made me accept this role. I don't care about being typecast because I don't plan on accepting a role unless it is interesting.

Are you getting more such offers?

In fact, I am. Just after this film I did get a few offers for lead roles, but I am not doing them. I don't want to do films at all unless I like the role.

Which do you prefer -- a lead role or a character role?

Look at the kind of importance I had in Hum Saath-Saath Hain. I was there in almost every scene. That means my character was really not the sidey stuff. It was good. The kind of footage I got there was good. If I get such a role again, I would prefer it over the lead role any day. It wouldn't matter that lead actresses are more important. At this stage, all that matters is the role.

Are you doing any more films in the near future?

Like I said, the offers are there, but I am not looking at acting again. But again, if something interesting comes my way, I will surely do it.

Interview by Sharmila Taliculam