We believe Neelam Kothari is a Femina Platinum Woman because:

She has the spirit of a child and the wisdom of a woman.

I sometimes feel I am still 18. There's so much to do and see. When I introspect, I realise over the years, I've become wiser when it comes to gauging people and that is something that you only gain with age and experience.

She believes in being honest and authentic.

I have no qualms about admitting it: I am an introvert and I have a temper like a soda bottle - there, I've said it. I am also an emotional fool, and I wouldn't change any of these things about me. I am what I am.

She knows her priorities.

My priorities are family, then work. It's always been like that and I don't think it will ever change.

She has zero tolerance for hypocrites.

If there is one thing that I really hate, it's hypocrisy. It really gets to me how some people can say one thing but believe in something different.

She chose to work in a film industry where she didn't know the language or the skill initially.

I had just completed my 10th standard and came down to Mumbai for vacations when (film maker) Ramesh Behl spotted me. And although I laughed at the whole idea at first (I could barely speak Hindi), I realised soon that it was a good escape from the awful time I was having in school in Bangkok.

I thought acting would be easy. I used to watch so many films - it didn't seem hard. But not only was acting difficult, so was learning Hindi! I drove away five tutors before I finally settled into learning the language.

She came from an affluent family but never took her fortunes or her future for granted.

Movies were just an escape route for me at first. But I had always yearned to do something extraordinary with my life and this seemed just that. My entry into movies was a major turning point in my life. It encouraged me to shed my inhibitions and awkwardness. I began to love Mumbai, and especially acting!

She never stops.

I believe my biggest personal transition is the one I made when I went from being actress to jewellery designer. I come from a family of jewellers but the change wasn't an easy one. Today, my designs sell through Sotheby's and Christie's, apart from outlets in India, Europe, US, Middle East and Asia. I feel proud when people refer to me as actress/jewellery designer.