Neelima Azeem, born on December 2, 1958, in Patna, India, is an accomplished Indian actress, classical dancer, and writer. She is the mother of renowned Bollywood actors Shahid Kapoor and Ishaan Khatter. Azeem's father, Anwar Azeem, was a journalist and Urdu author, while her mother, Khadija, was related to the famous writer Khwaja Ahmad Abbas. Neelima began her training in Kathak dance at the age of 10 under the tutelage of esteemed dancer Pandit Birju Maharaj. She made her acting debut in the television series "Phir Wahi Talash" in 1989 and gained further recognition for her role in the film "Salim Langde Pe Mat Ro." Neelima has had a tumultuous personal life; she married actor Pankaj Kapoor in 1979 but they divorced later. She then married Rajesh Khattar and had another son, Ishaan Khatter. Neelima has faced challenges in her career, including biases within the film industry.