Salman Khan's 'Lucky' co-star Sneha Ullal reacts to director's claim linking Arpita Khan with her Bollywood launch

Time of India

15-05-2025

Sneha Ullal, who debuted opposite Salman Khan in Lucky: No Time for Love, recently reacted to the directors' claim that she was introduced to them by Salman's sister, Arpita Khan Sharma. Directors Radhika Rao and Vinay Sapru stated in an interview that Arpita recommended Sneha from her college during their search for a new actress. Sneha responded to the viral clip with a cryptic 'Acha? Aise Hua?', sparking speculation about the accuracy of their account.
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Sneha Ullal's Reaction
Clarification on the Aishwarya Rai Comparison
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Background on Salman and Aishwarya's History
Sneha Ullal's entry into Bollywood through the 2005 film 'Lucky: No Time for Love' created widespread curiosity, especially due to her resemblance to Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and her debut opposite Salman Khan . Over the years, speculation remained about how she landed the role. Now, directors Radhika Rao and Vinay Sapru have provided clarity on the casting process, stating that Salman Khan's sister, Arpita Khan Sharma, was instrumental in introducing Ullal to them.In a recent interview with Pinkvilla's Hindi Rush, the directors revealed that they were in search of a fresh face when Arpita approached them with a recommendation. Sapru explained that Arpita told them about a 'very beautiful girl' from her college and suggested they audition her. He added that the character was of a young schoolgirl whose parents worked in an embassy, requiring someone who looked like they had lived in Europe. When they met Sneha, she fit the role perfectly.Following the interview, a clip from the conversation gained traction on Instagram, prompting a reaction from Sneha Ullal herself. Commenting on the post, Ullal wrote, 'Acha? Aise Hua?' Her response, though brief, raised questions among fans about the authenticity of the filmmakers' narrative. The comment drew attention to a possible disconnect between the directors' recollection and her own understanding of the events.During the interview, the filmmakers also addressed the long-standing theory that Ullal was cast because of her resemblance to Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, who had been romantically linked to Salman Khan in the past. Vinay Sapru firmly denied that Ullal's similarity to Rai played any role in the casting decision. He clarified that while they occasionally noticed a resemblance during the shoot, it was never part of their plan or a deliberate choice.Radhika Rao echoed this sentiment, stating that the resemblance became more noticeable only after the promotional campaign began and people started pointing it out. She acknowledged that it would be dishonest to say they never saw the similarity, but emphasized it was never a deciding factor. According to her, many people resemble others and it wasn't something they focused on. She added that being compared to Aishwarya should be seen as a compliment, not a controversy.Speculation around Ullal's casting has also been fueled by public knowledge of Salman Khan's past relationship with Aishwarya Rai Bachchan. The two actors were linked after starring together in Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam in 1999. Their relationship was highly publicized but ended in 2002. Since then, both have moved on—Aishwarya is married to actor Abhishek Bachchan and is a mother to their daughter Aaradhya, while Salman Khan remains unmarried.