‘Being an Ash lookalike has helped me’ - Sneha Ullal

Her uncanny resemblance to Aishwarya Rai Bachchan has made more news than her films. A Salman Khan discovery, Sneha Ullal, who debuted at 17 in Lucky: No Time For Love a couple of years ago, didn’t seem to have luck on her side in B-town. Now, two years later, Sneha is considered hot property in the south, especially in the Telugu industry. With two consecutive hits in Ullasanga Utsahanga and Nene Meeku Telusa, Sneha’s scored some plum projects in Tollywood. She’s just made a special appearance in a song for Nagarjuna’s King and is also playing his leading lady in Current.

So, did Sneha move down south because she isn’t doing well in Bollywood? “It’s just that I was too young to display any talent when I debuted. I was 17 then, and didn’t want to work too hard. So, I groomed myself for two years and then decided to do south films. I was getting some very good roles from the south and decided to exploit opportunities here. Besides being a good training ground, the southern industry is also more professional when compared to Bollywood,” she explains.

So, did she make a mistake when she debuted so young? “In Lucky…, I played a school kid and I also didn’t learn anything from that film. I looked kiddish and was also confused at that phase. So, I took a break to look more mature and improve my acting skills. I’ve lost two years now and don’t want to lose more time,” admits Sneha. But being a Salman Khan find, and having done Aryan with Sohail Khan, why didn’t she cash in on her rapport with the Khan khandaan? “Salman’s always there for me and I’m still in touch with him. But now, I want to make it on my own — without anyone’s backing,” asserts the Mangalorean girl.

What about her reputation as an Ash lookalike — did it help her career? “It was much talked about, so it must’ve somewhere! Yeah, it definitely gave me the fame needed for a newbie, but I don’t want to rely on that anymore. In fact, when I met Ash at an awards function, I apologised for all the lookalike hype around me. She said it’s all media created and advised me to get used to it,” says the actress.

While Sneha promises to stick around in the south, she’s also looking at a re-entry in Bollywood. “In B-town, if you’re in, you’re in. If you quit, you’re out. I’m getting a second chance to make a comeback and want to play it right henceforth. I have a couple of films lined up, so I’m looking forward to them,” she says.

As for the various camps and joining the bikini brigade, Sneha has some strong views. “I don’t think sleeping around can get you work. I only believe in choosing the right script. And while I won’t wear a churidar and be the quiet type, I also won’t resort to skin show. Also, no size zero for me. Heroines need to flaunt their curves — that’s how you make a guy look like s*&t!” she signs off.