Two Much In Bollywood

Shammi Kapoor’s body language and dancing style reminded many of Elvis Presley.

SNEHA ULLAL and AISHWARYA RAI

THE LOWDOWN:
Sneha made her debut with Lucky: No time For Love in 2005 opposite Salman Khan, around the time he split with his erstwhile girlfriend, Aishwarya Rai.

The film bombed but Salman tried promoting Sneha. She was cast opposite his brother Sohail Khan in the dud Aryan. Flops such as Kaashh. Mere Hote and Click followed Sneha found space in Telugu films. She has an English film, Gandhi Park, coming up.

  
LOOKALIKE FACTOR:
Like Ash, Sneha is of Mangalorean origin and has fair skin and light eyes. She met Salman through his sister Arpita. Salman, nursing heartbreak at the point, recommended Sneha for Lucky reportedly because she resembled Ash. Reacting to Sneha's resemblance to Ash, Salman said: "It's just because of the green eyes. I don't see any resemblance. Even if there is, what's the big deal?"

CAREER PUSH:
With Ash going great guns in Bollywood and Salman not keen to promote her after the initial duds, Sneha wisely shifted base to Telugu films. Hits such as Ullasamga Utsahamga, Simha and Ala Modalaindi helped her consolidate base down South.

HARMAN BAWEJA and HRITHIK ROSHAN

THE LOWDOWN:
Harman got a grand launch in dad Harry Baweja's 2008 film, Love Story 2050.

His affair with the film's heroine Priyanka Chopra made news but Love Story 2050 flopped.

LOOKALIKE FACTOR:
Harman has always been trying hard to brush off the Hrithik lookalike tag.

"I can't help the way I look. It is what my parents gave me. I have not done plastic surgery. Anyway, every newcomer will be compared to someone," Harman defends himself.

However, the similarities don't end with looks. Harman has all along tried to build a muscular frame like Hrithik, and also copy his dance moves.

CAREER PUSH:
Harman has not signed a new film in almost two years now, so there is no career push. Clearly, his bid to become a mainstream star has worked against him.

Big producers who can afford Hrithik would avoid Harman, and small producers can't afford to float productions that match his image. Last we heard, he was approached for a reality TV reality show. He turned down the offer.

NIKHIL DWIVED and SHAH RUKH KHAN

THE LOWDOWN:
Nikhil made his debut with the E. Niwas dud, My Name Is Anthony Gonsalves. Success has eluded him so far despite credible performances in Shor In The City and Mani Ratnam's Raavan.

LOOKALIKE FACTOR:
Nikhil, who has been careful in his attempt to rehash everything from Shah Rukh Khan's hairdo to body language, is yet to get his first hit in Bollywood. He is also gifted with a pout and dimples that remind you of SRK.

While most superstars ignore their lookalikes, SRK was graceful enough to attend the premier of My Name Is Anthony Gonsalves.

"Today people know him as my lookalike, but soon he will be a prominent name in the industry and youngsters will emulate him," King Khan had said then about Nikhil.

CAREER PUSH:
Being dubbed as the poor man's SRK has its advantages. Nikhil never runs out of offers from low and medium-budget filmmakers.

SONU SOOD and AMITABH BACHCHAN

THE LOWDOWN:
Sonu shot to fame as the villain of Dabangg, after struggling for some years despite films such as Jodhaa Akbar, Yuva and Aashiq Banaya Aapne.

LOOKALIKE FACTOR:
Sonu's height, facial structure and deep voice remind many of a young Big B from his Zanjeer days. Notably, Sonu bagged the role of Abhishek Bachchan's elder brother in Yuva because of his resemblance to Bachchan senior.

"I am very fond of Sonu because he reminds me of a young Amitabh Bachchan," Jaya Bachchan said some time ago.

CAREER PUSH:
Sonu recently signed a gangster flick, Zilla Ghaziabad, where he plays an angry young man. Although a Punjabi, Sonu plays a character with shades of the Big B's Chhora Ganga kinare waala image.

In the fifties, when Dev Anand ruled, many noted the resemblance he bore with Hollywood actor Gregory Peck.

ZARINE KHAN and KATRINA KAIF

THE LOWDOWN:
 Zarine made her debut in Salman Khan's dud Veerlast year.

After Salman's then-girlfriend Katrina Kaif reportedly refused to play the heroine in the period film, the superstar went on an aggressive hunt to find a replacement in terms of glamour and looks. He discovered Zarine.

LOOKALIKE FACTOR:
While Zarine bears a strong resemblance with Katrina, critics and the audience alike cruelly dismissed her as 'Fatrina' once Veerreleased because she looked grossly overweight.She has also failed to match Katrina's charm and sex appeal.

 ZARINE KHAN and KATRINA KAIF

 The lookalike factor actually worked against Zarine as long as Salman and Katrina were an item. No Bollywood assignment came her way. "Katrina is beautiful but I don't think I look like Katrina. I want to create my identity," Zarine said in an online interview recently.

CAREER PUSH:
Zarine's latest claim to fame is the hit item number Character dheelain Salman's upcoming Ready. Sajid Khan has offered her a role in his multistarrer Housefull 2. Rumours suggest Sajid would have loved Katrina in the role but she has become ultra-choosy after becoming a superstar. The only starring role Zarine has in her kitty right now is once again thanks to Salman. She will be seen opposite the superstar in Shirish Kunder's upcoming Kick.

Aamir Khan has been compared with Tom Hanks and film observers even find similarities in the acting styles of the two stars.