BOLLYWOOD
DNA Web Team | May 13, 2021, 08:46 AM IST
1.Sneha Ullal: Aishwarya Rai Bachchan's doppelganger
In 2005, when Salman Khan launched Sneha Ullal in his film 'Lucky: No Time For Love', she made instant headlines. But, it wasn't just because a newcomer with no filmy background had been cast alongside superstar Salman that Sneha made it to the news, but it was majorly because of her uncanny resemblance to former beauty queen and Salman's ex-girlfriend Aishwarya Rai, that she became the talk of the town.
2.Sneha Ullal: Aishwarya Rai Bachchan's doppelganger - Bollywood hiatus, career down South
Despite the tremendous media attention and Salman Khan as the male lead, Sneha's debut film tanked at the box office. A lot of the film's terrible performance was credited to the constant comparisons with Bollywood star and former Miss World Aishwarya Rai, because of which many felt that fans failed to fully see Sneha's full potential as an individual artiste. However, after 'Lucky', Sneha then paired up with Sohail Khan in Aryan, but that didn't do well either. Soon after, Sneha took a hiatus from the Hindi film industry and began her acting venture in Tollywood. She made her Telugu debut with A Karunakaran directed 'Ullasamga Utsahamga'/. She even bagged the Best Debut Actor Award for the film. Thereafter, Sneha featured in several South Indian movies like 'Nenu Meeku Telusa', 'Kinga' and 'Current'. Fours year after her break from Bollywood, in 2009, she did a film titled 'Click', which released and disappeared without making much noise. However, her notable work includes Simha, Varudu and Ala Modalaindi. As for Bollywood, Sneha was last seen in a 2015 Hindi film 'Bezubaan Ishq', which didn't well either.
3.Comparisons with Aishwarya Rai
While comparisons with Aishwarya Rai did not help her get box office numbers, Sneha did acknowledge the fact that it brought her a lot of recognition. In fact, in a 2020 interview with IANS, Sneha had said that the comparisons did not bother her. "I am so comfortable in my own skin and all those comparisons didn’t bother me. Also, that was also their PR strategy on how to describe me. That thing actually emphasised the entire comparison. Otherwise, it may not have been such a big deal,” she had said. In fact, in an old interview with Hindustan Times, a year after her debut, Sneha had said she was a big admirer of Aishwarya. "I am a big admirer of Aishwarya Rai for her work and achievements in the film industry but to be very honest I am not really happy being compared to her for my looks. I want to have my own individuality. What can I do if I look like her? I don’t want to be so but can’t change my looks now. I love to be known and recognized for my own work and achievements."
4.What is Sneha Ullal up to now?
Sneha Ullal has a decent career down South. In 2020, however, Sneha made her OTT debut with Zee5's 'Expiry Date'. The web show revolves around two couples and the extra-marital affairs that they are involved in. The show also features Tony Luke, Madhu Shalini and Ali Reza. If one goes to Sneh'a Instagram handle, one will know that she is currently part of a short film on MX Player titled 'Bhranti'.
5.Sneha Ullal: Early life
Born in a Telugu family in Middle East Muscat, Oman, Sneha's father hails from Mangalore whilst her mother is Sindhi. The actor completed her schooling at the Indian School Wadi Kabir and Indian School, Salalah in Oman. Later, she moved to Mumbai with her mother and attended the Durelo Convent High School and went to Vartak College before stepping into the Hindi film industry.