Neetu Kohli in the state capital. Picture by Manik Bose

Ranchi, May 2: She has played mother to Abhishek Bachchan in Run and to Jimmy Shergil in Agni Pankh. But that’s just one aspect of Neelu Kohli’s acting career, which she started at 35, an age when most actors mull quitting.

But for Neelu, born and brought up in Ranchi, it was the beginning of a journey which made her a household name, courtesy roles in popular serials and acting opposite popular stars like Smriti Irani, Khulbhushan Kharbanda, Shoma Anand and Kamini Kaushal.

In the city on a 10-day holiday with daughter Saheeba, Neelu is at present playing the role of Nanda Chachi in the serial Bhabhi on Star Plus, and Pammi Chachi in Ek Ladki Anjani Si on Sony television.

Neelu, who lives in the North Office Para, Doranda, was a student of Loreto Convent, and later Nirmala College. After marrying Harminder Singh Kohli she moved to Chandigarh, but as she says, she’s still very much a Ranchi girl.

“I am always a Ranchi girl and will remain like that. It does not matter whether one is from a small town, as long as one is working hard. Now, I am in a position to choose my work,” she says with a smile.

With some of her serials like Sangam ready to take off, Neelu is also part of films like Mera Pehla Pehla Pyar, due to be released soon. Of the two mediums, television is definitely more demanding than films, she admits.

She recounts how when her daughter suffered from jaundice she could not give her as much attention she wanted to because of her commitments. “An acting career requires a lot of hard work and is not a bed of roses,” she says.

On how did acting happen to her after 10 years of family life, Neelu said it was quite by chance. “There was no plan as such to take up acting. I got an offer through a friend to act in the Punjabi channel Lashkara and played the character of Prito, which became a household name. My patience paid off,” she says, with a smile.

She admitted that initially her family was hesitant about her decision but it was only a matter of time and today they are proud of her.

“I feel proud the manner she manages both her career and home,” says her mother Meeta Duggal.