Lucky – No Time For Love (2005) completed 20 years on April 8. This also means that Sneha Ullal also celebrated her 20th anniversary as an actor. She debuted opposite Salman Khan in this film and her casting was a huge talking point around its release. In an exclusive interview with Bollywood Hungama, the beautiful and talented Sneha Ullal spoke about her memories of shooting her debut film and a lot more.
Congrats on completing 20 years. Do you remember what you were feeling at this time exactly 20 years ago?
I don’t have a lot of memory, which is surprising actually as it was my first film. But I do remember when the teaser came out. There was a glimpse of me in the blue saree from the song ‘Aake Bharlo Bajuo Mein’. It was the first time I saw myself on television. That I remember clearly (smiles). But I don’t have a lot of memory about the release of the film in cinemas.
Did you visit cinema halls to see the reaction?
I did go to the theatres once to witness the crowd's reaction. All of them were very loving towards me and my character. They said, ‘You were so cute’ and ‘You did well’!
When the teaser of Lucky – No Time For Love was out, we expected it to be a musical but later, it was pleasantly surprising to see that it had a lot of action as well…
It was a grand film at that time. We shot for 3 months in Russia. It was not cheap to do so. When I look back, I realize that it was a very luxurious project.
How was it being away from home and your family for such a long time?
It was not supposed to be a three-month-long schedule initially. But as the environment was not always friendly to shoot and due to the scale of the project, a lot of delays happened. I remember I felt like I was very far from home. It almost felt like I was at a boarding school! This is because I was taken away from my friends and my comfort zone. I was asked to follow a strict timetable; I had to wake up at 5:00 am every day. We’d then shoot until it was dark. I was too young. I was unaware of the industry and acting and hence, it seemed to be like school.
I can’t forget when I was returning to Mumbai. I was on the plane. We were hovering above Mumbai. As we were about to land, we could see the slums. That was the moment when I felt surreal. I asked myself, ‘Am I really back home?’! The excitement gradually crept. My whole family and my then boyfriend, who was also my first love, they all came to the airport to receive me. All of them hugged me. It made me feel that I was away for a very, very long time.
Which was the first scene that you shot for?
It was the song ‘Sun Zara’ and it was shot in Mumbai. It was a very intelligent decision by the directors (Radhika Rao and Vinay Sapru) as I was unconscious in the song. Hence, they gradually introduced me to the shooting atmosphere without having me do much. For the first three days of the shoot, I was just lying down on that very pretty bed. At the same time, I was slowly getting accustomed to the shoot like how scenes are canned, how make-up and hair are done, how cameras are placed etc. Kudos to my directors for making sure that I didn’t get overwhelmed on the first day.
When was the first time you met Salman Khan?
I first met him in his house, Galaxy Apartments, when he called me and his mother. My sister and my brother-in-law also accompanied us. I walked into his living room. As always, he was very respectful. He was also quite loving towards my mother. My attention, however, first went to his dogs, MySon and MyJaan. Now, they are no more. We are also animal lovers, just like him. Hence, my first approach was to love them. I was very young. I didn’t care ki yehi badi film hai. I was not interested in it. I was like ‘Ohh…the dogs…so cute’!
How was the experience of working with Mithun Chakraborty?
My most favourite memory is him cooking the best ever Kaali Dal at our hotel in Russia. We stayed there for three months and we had gotten bored of having hotel ka khana. Though it had Indian food, it wasn’t fresh material and moreover, it was the peak winter season. That’s when he and my mother decided to cook for the whole unit. Mithun da cooked Kaali Dal and it was the best ever Kaali Dal that I had tasted. We all sat together, taang upar kar ke and ate dal, chapati and rice (smiles).
Mithun Chakraborty is quite famous in Russia thanks to Disco Dancer (1982)…
He had female Russian fans lining outside the hotel every single day. He had more fans than Salman in Russia! I was amazed. I didn’t come from the Bollywood industry. Hence, I wasn’t aware of certain aspects. I was like, ‘Baap re. Mithun da is a very big star’! Moreover, our hotel was located in a remote area of St Petersburg. And yet, they assembled there. Moreover, they were non-Hindi-speaking fans!
This was also the time when Mujhse Shaadi Karogi’s (2004) pre-production was going on. Salman had the music of the film with him. Just like how Lucky had fabulous songs, Mujhse Shaadi Karogi’s album was equally fabulous. Salman, Mithun da and I would sit together. While they had their drinks, I would sip Coke; and we would non-stop listen to its songs. It's very nostalgic for me. Even today, when I hear the songs of Mujhse Shaadi Karogi, I remember the restaurant of that hotel where we would listen to the songs. Also, we had booked the entire hotel. It was just us over there.
Lucky – No Time For Love doesn’t look dated even for 20 years and gives the feeling of today’s film…
Indeed. The makers should really think about re-releasing Lucky. I am sure it would resonate with people again because they had loved Salman in the film at that time.
Did you check reviews during the time of its release?
Not at all!
Were you not eager to know what was written about you by the critics?
No. There was a lot of talk about me due to the PR activity. It was too much. The entire nation was talking about this girl shooting with Salman Khan. Hence, I was used to it by the time the film was released. However, my family collected a lot of newspaper cuttings about me. Moreover, I was already shooting Aryan (2006) by then. Nevertheless, the excitement was tremendous.
Is it true that Arpita Khan Sharma had seen you and that’s how you got recommended for the film?
Her friends had spoken about me. But I don’t really know the entire story. It was actually Salman who told me about it, that Arpita’s friends were around and then happened to see me.
Are you still in touch with Salman Khan, Mithun Chakraborty and director duo Radhika Rao and Vinay Sapru?
I am occasionally in touch with Salman, Mithun da and also his son. Radhika and Vinay messaged me informing me about 20 years of Lucky. I told them that I am forever grateful. We promised to meet soon. I messaged Salman. I told him, ‘It’s been 20 years. I feel old’. He replied, ‘Oh shit’ (laughs)!
How do you look back at your 20-year-old journey?
I wish it did not happen so early. I wish it happened in today’s day and age. Maybe, if Lucky had happened 5 years ago, it would have been great timing.
Do you mean in terms of box office?
I mean in terms of social media; I would have had more exposure. It is much nicer now as everybody is prepared. I would have been better trained. I would have done so much. I would have understood the industry a lot more.
What next?
I am doing a Telugu horror comedy. A couple of days of its shoot is left. I have worked in a festival movie called Scar. It centres on racism and is about the discrimination that Sikhs face in America. I have also done one more festival film, Saako 363, based on Rajasthan history and Chipko Movement.
Any final thoughts?
A lot of people ask, ‘Where has that Lucky girl gone?’. I would tell them that I was too young to make acting a full-fledged career. My education was cut halfway. I needed time to grow up and be fully equipped to manage a difficult career. I am here
More Pages: Lucky - No Time For Love Box Office Collection
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