Bollywood actress Sneha Ullal first gained prominence with her role opposite Salman Khan in the film “Lucky: No Time for Love.” At the time, her striking resemblance to Aishwarya Rai drew significant media attention, leading to comparisons that labeled her as a doppelganger of the former Miss World. In a recent podcast with AlphaNeon Studioz, Ullal shared her thoughts on these parallels, stating that they never affected her.
Reflecting on her experience working alongside Salman Khan, Sneha described him as supportive and patient throughout the filming process. She addressed the notion that her casting was solely based on her likeness to Aishwarya, attributing such rumors to public relations efforts at the time. According to Ullal, she embraced her identity and was not concerned with external opinions.
She recalled, “Obviously, I was coming in with Salman Khan, so people would recognize me like that, but it never bothered me because I was very young and had no ego. I have never been beauty-conscious, so these comparisons didn’t affect me.” Sneha further mentioned that Aishwarya’s rise to fame had a direct impact on her own visibility, as many remarked on their similarity. During a brief meeting, Aishwarya welcomed her to Bollywood, saying, “Welcome to the family.” Ullal humorously apologized, unsure of how the established actress felt about the comparisons.
“Lucky: No Time for Love” was released in 2005, directed by Radhika Rao and Vijay Sapru. The romantic drama featured a storyline set against the backdrop of war-torn Russia, showcasing the love story of its protagonists. Along with Salman Khan and Sneha Ullal, the film included performances from notable actors such as Mithun Chakraborty, Kader Khan, and Ravi Baswani. Although the film had a production budget of ₹14 crore, it managed to gross ₹27.81 crore globally, classifying it as an average success.
After her debut, Ullal expanded her career by participating in various Hindi and Telugu films, including titles like “Aryan,” “Ullasamga Utsahamga,” and “Madatha Kaja.” Her most recent project is “Nilakanta,” directed by Rakesh Madhavan, which features a cast that includes Master Mahendran and Ramki.
On the other hand, Aishwarya Rai has taken a step back from acting in recent years. Her last appearance was in the critically acclaimed film “Ponniyin Selvan II,” directed by Mani Ratnam, which was released in 2023. The film featured a star-studded ensemble, including Karthi and Vikram, and achieved significant commercial success, grossing over ₹344 crore worldwide.