How was your birthday? How did you celebrate?
I had shot a song the previous day for 16 hours. I was completely exhausted, which is a nice feeling. It makes you feel important (smiles). Hence, I was at home on my birthday and I chilled with my family and friends. Moreover, the FIFA finals was going on and I have been following the World Cup from the start. I had to see it and it was exhilarating. We saw the match on a projector. There was food, drinks and my loved ones with me. It was just perfect!
EXCLUSIVE: Sneha Ullal talks about the first item song of her career: also reveals why she refused a Hollywood offer: “There was ABSOLUTE full-on nudity in that film”
Could you share more details about the song that you shot a day before your birthday?
It was an item number, for a Telugu film. It’s the first item number of my career. I must have refused 100-200 item song offers in my career till date. I am finally at a place in life where I am mature enough to handle it. I had my doubts about taking it up because I have always been like ‘I am not the item girl type’. But then I decided to move beyond my comfort zone. And it was fun and a good experience.
Before you went down South, you had mentioned in an interview that you had had apprehensions since you felt that South films are too revealing and loud…
I believe that it always comes down to choice. Different types of films are being made in abundance. You just have to choose whatever you are comfortable with. A lot of films that are revealing and are loud are being made even now. As an actor, you know your limits. I drew mine as soon as I entered the industry. That hasn’t really changed.
In the same interview, you also revealed that you got an offer from Hollywood but you refused it…
Yes, because there was absolute full-on nudity in that film. Although they tried to adapt and adjust as per the sensibilities of Indian cinema, it was still quite a bit for me. Maybe another Indian actress would have been comfortable doing it. At that point, in time, it was a shocker for me. I was like ‘No way I am doing it’.
If I look at your recent filmography, it seems like you have been selective in your projects nowadays…
I have always been too selective and that’s not a good thing. I should be a little bit less finicky in life. But I have this thing that everything needs to be correct and as per my comfort zone. But that never happens. If anything, I would like to be a little more flexible.
Have you regretted turning down a film that you were offered?
Not really. That’s because whenever I have refused, it is for a very solid reason and I have always been sure of the reason. So, ifs and buts don’t arise. You do feel bad that you turned down an offer. But I won’t say I have ever had any regrets.
In recent times, the concept of pan-Indians has become common. Since you have worked down South as well in Bollywood, would you like to do one such film?
Absolutely. It’s a brilliant time that Indian cinema is literally coming together for the first time. That’s how it should be. There was so much division between different regional industries and all these lines are now blurring.
Also, you have worked with so many filmmakers and also actors like Balakrishna and Allu Arjun…
Oh yes. It’s been a great journey for me. I didn’t even ask for so much.
Looking at your Hindi films, it seems like some of them never got a chance as they were not well-promoted be it Kaashh… Mere Hote (2009), Bezubaan Ishq (2015), Love You Loktantra (2022) etc. Your thoughts?
Speaking of Love You Loktantra, the producer Ameet Mehta did a good job considering the star cast, post-Covid scenario. He managed to get the film in cinemas and put up 500-600 hoardings around. As a new producer, I am proud of him and I have no complaints about his work. The other producers, however, were too new or too naïve. They didn’t know what was going on or to even make a film. It was difficult then and it’s more difficult for such people now. Hence, now when I get movie offers, one of the first questions I ask is how the producers plan to release the project.
Would you be interested to do reality shows?
I have been getting offers but I’ve kept it aside for now because I don’t feel I have done enough. I started very early and right now, the roles that are coming my way are the ones I would have loved to play back then. I like characters that have negative or grey shades and where not everything is about looking beautiful or being the love interest. There’s so much complexity to female characters now. That’s something I always wanted. Moreover, I have taken my career very lightly. I haven’t really done or pushed the way an actor should do. So, I want to do that for some time now. And then maybe do one kickass reality show and tell people who I am, where I have come from and the difference I want to make. I do want to share information.
You must as I could barely find your interviews…
Oh yes. I am a very ‘anti-social’ person. It’s very sad. And I am the exact opposite of how I look. I may doll up but I am a tomboy. No one knows that. For me, smiling and looking pretty on screen is like ‘Oh god, now I have put the tomboy down and get the girl up’!
The songs of Lucky – No Time For Love (2005) are memorable even today and a lot of music channels keep playing it throughout the year…
Honestly, at that time, I didn’t even know the magnitude of that film or of my debut Telugu film, Ullasamga Utsahamga (2008). That’s because we don’t come from a film background. For me, it was simply doing my work and moving on. I could never understand the value of a hit film. I am fortunate to have done these films, though.
Though you have done so much work, and yet all news reports and headlines related to you begin with the tag ‘Aishwarya Rai lookalike’…
That tag won’t go as that is how I was introduced to the industry. And when I am in front of the media every day is when this tag will go. So many people have asked me ‘Why don’t you get your airport look clicked?’ I guess when I indulge in these activities is when these comparisons will stop. But since I appear in front of the media once a year, the recollecting factor of them would be that (me being an Aishwarya lookalike). I completely understand why they write so.
Personally, it was sad to see it as there’s so much to you…
But they don’t know that, right? I am not available. So they won’t know what to write and how to address me.
Have you ever met Aishwarya Rai?
I did meet her once at the Filmfare Awards. I don’t remember the conversation we had but it was cordial and sweet. There were no ill-feelings at all.
Are you still in touch with Salman Khan?
Lately, not as much. But Salman is somebody who suddenly appears and calls me from nowhere. He would tell me, ‘Listen, I was thinking of you. Are you okay?’ However, off late, I have lost touch with a lot of people.
Did he offer you any other film after Lucky – No Time For Love?
He’s not supposed to. It’s not his responsibility that har kisi ko apne kandhe pe bitha ke chadao. He has worked his way up. Is he supposed to look after his work or should he look after others? In fact, when I see people who are hanging with him just with the hope of getting work, I get irritated. I have been brought up in such a way that I don’t use people. It’s not his job to give anybody work.
Can you tell us about your upcoming films, besides the one for which you shot the item song?
I have a Hindi film that is in post-production. It’s a courtroom drama, titled 3rd October. I am playing a lawyer defending the accused. Hiten Tejwani plays the opponent lawyer. And I have a Telugu film called 8.
What are your plans on December 31?
Hopefully, I’ll bag some event or some work will come up. If not, then I’ll celebrate at my friend’s place.
In an interview, you mentioned that you have as many as 212 stuffed toys…
Yes, I do and the number has done up. I have kept these toys as a childhood memory. I have been collecting it since I was 1-year-old aur yeh kahin nahin jaayenge. People still gift me stuffed toys. My mother scolds me, ‘You are a grown woman. Tell people to gift you something better!’ But it’s my only childhood memory. I don’t want to get rid of it. The more you grow, the memory keeps fading out. So these toys come in handy to remind you of your growing up years.
There’s a town named Ullal in Karnataka. Does your family hail from this place?
Yes. My ancestors are from Ullal. It’s in Mangalore. It has beautiful beaches and I’ve also heard that there are pretty girls out there. If you want a pretty girl, you should head to Ullal. I am sure you’ll find a light-eyed girl (laughs)!
Any message to your fans?
Try following a vegan diet. Avoid leather and fur. Animals don’t deserve to suffer. You can be a better human being by living a harmless life. I am a vegan choice and I live a life without harming any living being; not many people can claim this. I don’t use leather at all. When I go for events and I am gifted Gucci or Louis Vuitton products, I immediately return as I can’t and won’t use them.
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