Samir Soni Opens Up on Getting Divorced on the Day of His Debut Film Premiere

Actor Samir Soni has revealed the intense emotional chaos he endured during the collapse of his first marriage to model Rajlaxmi Khanvilkar, which ended after just six months. Speaking about the fateful day, Soni shared that he had to visit the civil court in the morning to finalize his divorce papers, only to attend the grand evening premiere of his debut feature film a few hours later. Torn between devastating heartbreak and professional accomplishment, he found himself utterly bewildered about whether to weep over his broken relationship or celebrate the biggest night of his career. Keeping the personal tragedy completely hidden from the world, Soni disclosed that not even his parents were aware of the divorce when they accompanied him to the screening, with veteran actor Naseeruddin Shah being the sole confidant who knew the harsh reality behind his smile.Neelam Kothari's Painful Isolation, Clashing Traumas, and Healing Second ChancesReflecting on past heartbreaks, Soni emphasized that his current wife, actress Neelam Kothari, endured an even more harrowing divorce experience after leaving behind her successful film career and moving abroad following her marriage to UK-based businessman Rishi Sethia. Returning to India after their separation, Kothari slipped into deep isolation for nearly an entire year, avoiding social contact while battling severe self-doubt before close friends Ekta Kapoor and Shabina Khan helped her rebuild her life. When Soni and Kothari initially crossed paths, the lingering scars of their respective broken marriages triggered intense friction and repeated breakups over minor misunderstandings, often causing them to drift apart for days before finally reconciling, confronting their past traumas together, and building a lasting marital partnership.