Neelima Azeem is an Indian actress, classical dancer and writer. He is known for his work in Hindi films and TV serials. She is the mother of popular Bollywood actors Shahid Kapoor and Ishaan Khatter.
Wiki/Biography
Neelima Azeem was born on Tuesday, December 2, 1958 (age 64 years; in 2022) in Moscow. He attended All Saints College in Nainital. He completed his schooling at Mater Dei School, Tilak Lane, New Delhi. He pursued his MA in Kathak at the Sangeet Natak Academy in Delhi.
Physical appearance
Height (approx): 5′ 6″
Weight (approx): 60 kg
Hair Color: Dark Brown
Eye Color: Black
Relationships/Affairs
After divorcing Pankaj Kapur, Neelima Azeem dated television actor Rajesh Khattar for a year. The actors met each other on the film set and soon became friends. After a while, they started dating. In an interview, Rajesh Khattar spoke about it and said,
It starts with friendship. We met on set. One thing led to another and in fact, we landed in Mumbai together.”
Family
Parents & Siblings
His father’s name is Anwar Azeem. He was a Marxist journalist and an Urdu author. His mother’s name is Khadijah. His brother, AN Anwer, is an actor.
Other relatives
Popular film director, novelist and journalist, Khwaja Ahmad Abbas is his maternal uncle. Popular TV producer and fashion designer Saba Zaidi is her first cousin.
Husband & Son
He married three times. She married for the first time to Indian actor Pankaj Kapur in 1979. Together, they have a son named Shahid Kapoor, who is a popular Bollywood actor. The couple divorced in 1984. She married for the second time to popular television actor Rajesh Khattar in 1990. Together they have a son named Ishaan Khatter, who is also a Bollywood actor. The couple called off their marriage in 2001. In an interview, Rajesh Khattar spoke about it and mentioned that the reason for their separation was lack of compatibility.
Neelima Azeem with Ishaan Khatter, Shahid Kapoor, and Rajesh Khattar
Azeem married for the third time to popular Indian classical vocalist of Patiala Gharana Raza Ali Khan in 2004, and they divorced in 2009.
Neelima Azeem with Raza Ali Khan
Career
Television
Neelima Azeem debuted as an actress in 1989 with the TV series ‘Phir Wahi Talash’ where she played the role of Shehnaz. The TV series proved to be a breakthrough in his career.
Neelima Azeem in a still from the TV series ‘Phir Wahi Talash’
She rose to fame after playing the role of Mumtaz in the historical TV series ‘The Sword of Tipu Sultan’ (1990) which aired on DD National. In 2002, she appeared in the historical drama TV serial ‘Amrapi’ starring Shilpa Shinde. He has worked in various television serials including ‘Talaash’ (1992), ‘Bible Ki Kahaniyan’ (1993), ‘Junoon’ (1994), ‘Saans’ (1998), ‘Kashmeer’ (2003), and ‘Dhoondh Legi Manzil’ Humein’ (2010).
Movie
She started her career in the Bollywood film industry with the film ‘Salim Langde Pe Mat Ro’ (1989) in which she played the role of Mumtaz. She appeared as ‘Chanda’ in the 1991 film ‘Sadak,’ starring Sanjay Dutt. In 2003, she played the role of Rajiv Mathur’s (played by Shahid Kapoor) mother in Shahid’s debut film ‘Ishq Vishk.’
Neelima Azeem in a still from the movie ‘Ishq Vishk’
Her performance as Zeher Raza in the film ‘Alif’ (2016) was praised by the audience. The film was later screened at the Queensland International Film Festival of India.
Neelima Azeem in a still from the movie ‘Alif’
Some of his famous films are ‘Karmyoddha’ (1992), ‘Itihaas’ (1997), ‘Sooryavansham’ (1999), ‘Just Married’ (2007), and ‘Blackmail’ (2018).
Web Series
In 2019, she played the role of Suhasini Joshi in the web series ‘Mom & Co.’ which premiered on the YouTube channel ‘Zoom Studios.’
‘Mom & Co.’ web series poster
In the same year, she appeared in the web series ‘Halala,’ which was released on the OTT platform Ullu.
Award
- She is a recipient of the Indira Gandhi Award which she received for her excellence in dance.
- In 2017, he received the Dr Bababsaheb Ambedkar Novel Award.
Neelima Azeem received the Dr Bababsaheb Ambedkar Novel Award
Favourite
- Dancers: Bharati Gupta, Saswati Sen
Facts/Trivia
- In an interview, she revealed that she started dancing at the age of two and performed her first stage performance at the age of four.
- He started learning Kathak at the age of 10 under the tutelage of popular classical dancer Birju Maharaj and has been associated with him for almost 52 years. He also received formal training for Kathak from various other eminent dancers such as Munna Shukla, Srimati Reva Vidyarthi, and Pundit Devilalji.
- Apart from dance, she also took formal training in singing. He learned singing from Ustad Munnawar Ali Khan, the popular vocalist of Kasur Patiala Gharana. He is the youngest son of Bade Ghulam Ali Khan.
- He started performing in theater productions at the age of 10 with the popular Indian playwright, theater director and actor Habib Tanvir, in his Chhattisgarhi theatre.
- At the age of 14, she had the incredible opportunity to participate in a captivating photo shoot for the Indian Classical Heritage Series stamps, showcasing the graceful art form of Kathak.
- In an interview, while talking about the bias she faced initially in the Hindi film industry, Neelima said,
In my film also through injustice the director cut my role because I looked better than the heroine. Couch casting is also a problem. My talent is not well utilized by the film industry. I am an observer, a dancer, an actor and have great diction!”
- He runs a Kathak dance academy in Mumbai called ‘Roots Academy.’
Categories: Biography
Source: SCHOOL TRANG DAI
