Aishwarya Rai's Lookalike Sneha Ullal Was Referred By Salman Khan's Sister: 'It Wasn't A Strategy'

News18

14-05-2025

Last Updated:
Aishwarya Rai Bachchan's lookalike Sneha Ullal was cast in Lucky: No Time for Love after being referred by Salman Khan's sister, Arpita Khan.
Aishwarya Rai's Lookalike, newcomer Sneha Ullal, was case opposite Salman Khan in Radhika Rao and Vinay Sapru's Lucky: No Time for Love. Sneha's entry into the film industry was no ordinary one, as she caught attention for her striking resemblance to Aishwarya Rai Bachchan. The actress, often referred to as Aishwarya Rai's doppelgänger, became a subject of media fascination. But the uncanny resemblance also sparked immediate comparisons, which ended up overshadowing much of her short-lived film career.
In a recent interview, the filmmakers said that the choice wasn't deliberately made to mirror Aishwarya. The timing of the film's release, shortly after Salman and Aishwarya were rumoured to have parted ways, only intensified the speculation. In an interview with Hindi Rush, the directors said they didn't choose Sneha Ullal because she looked like Aishwarya Rai. They wanted a new actress, and Salman Khan's sister Arpita suggested a girl from her college.
They said, 'It wasn't a strategy. We wanted to cast a newcomer, and Arpita (Khan, Salman's sister) said that there is a very pretty girl at her college, and asked if we'd want to audition her. The role was of a schoolgirl whose parents are working in an embassy. She needed to have the vibe of someone who has lived in Europe. She suited the role."
The filmmakers said they gradually noticed people comparing Sneha Ullal to Aishwarya Rai but didn't think it was fair to compare anyone to someone as beautiful as Aishwarya. Radhika added, 'We would notice a resemblance sometimes while shooting, but there are so many people who look like others. We never thought that the similarity was all that striking, but when the campaign started and people started pointing it out, that's when we noticed. It would be a lie to say that we didn't think about it, but we it wasn't a big deal. It's a good thing to be compared to Aishwarya!"
Aishwarya Rai and Salman Khan Relationship
Aishwarya Rai and Salman Khan were once rumoured to be in a relationship after working together in the film Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam in 1999. Their love story was widely talked about, but it soon became troubled. They broke up in 2002, and since then, both have moved on with their lives. While Salman Khan is unmarried, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan is married to Abhishek Bachchan and they have a daughter, Aaradhya Bachchan.
First Published:
May 14, 2025, 14:12 IST