Lucky Ali’s auburn eyes and a calm disposition speak many volumes, and so does his soulful voice. A class like his father Mehmood (1932-2004), Lucky Ali has but differed from hisfather’s profession bybeing more of a singer and musician than an actor. Mehmood was not just an actor, but he was one of the top comedians of his time and his son Lucky Ali has flourished as a heart touching singer. Today, Lucky is known for his soothing and melodious songs.Most of hissongsare like sojourns into another world. Although a singer, Luckyhas acted in several Bollywood movies. In his earlier films, he was mentored by his father. But in his latter films, he showed that he is a much greater singer than an actor and so far his achievements in music greatly surmountthat ofhis acting in films. As a musician, Lucky has established himself as a singer, lyricist, composer and producer. His genres are usually folk, pop and world. His talent in acting ishis secondary virtue. By far, Lucky has been a jack of many trades due to his wanderlust. He tried his hand at breedinghorses, oil rigging off the Pondicherry coast, selling carpets, and organic farming.
Mehmood Ali was a very popular comedian of Bollywood during the 1960s and 70s. He was more commonly known as Mehmood by the masses. His wife was Mahelaka who was a mix of Bengali and Punjabi. She was also the sister of Meena Kumari, a renowned heroine of the 1960s. Another relative of Lucky was Minoo Mumtaz, a dancer and actress of those times. She was one of his paternal aunts.Lucky was the second son of Mehmood’s eight sons and he used to be often neglected due to Mehmood’s busy schedule.In his childhood, Lucky had to attend various schools in various places. Altogether, he had attendedManekji Cooper (Kindergarten) (Juhu), Bombay Scottish School in Mumbai, Hampton Court in Mussoorie, St. George’s College, Mussoorie, and the Bishop Cotton Boys’ School, Bangalore.Mehmood had permanently settled in Bangalore, due to whicha part of Lucky’s schooling was in Bangalore.Lucky used to often remain away from his father for which Lucky had once identified his father as the film comedian Mehmood than his own father. He was only five years old. Mehmood, however, had a lot of love for his children.Unfortunately, one of his children was born disabled. His heart had gone out for him and he dedicated the movie Kunwara Baap (1974) to express his love for him.Even for Lucky’s tryst with marijuana, Mehmood scripted the movie Dushman Duniya Ka (1996) in which he abhorred drug abuse. Mehmood’s youngest son Manzoor had starred in this movie and Lucky had sung his second song for Bollywood in this movie. The song was “Nasha Nasha”. Lucky’s debut in singing was much earlier. His first was the song “Walking and I am Walking All Alone” from the movie Ek Baap Chhe Bete (1978). Lucky and five of his brothers had starred in this film along with their father Mehmood. It was in the year 2000 thatLucky’s songs for the movie Kaho Na Pyaar Hai (2000) brought him great fame overnight. He won the Filmfare award (Best Male Playback Singer) for the song “Na tum jaano na hum” of this movie. Much later, he won the same award for the song “Ahista Ahista” for the movie Bachna Ae Haseeno (2008).Other than providing soundtracks for many films, Lucky has also created seven music albums.
Born in a Muslim family, Lucky’s original name was Maqsood Mehmood Ali. Being a devout Muslim, Lucky acknowledges that the recitation of the Quran is his favourite music. But he conceives religion to be a connection to god than about preaching from rooftops. Although Lucky has a calm disposition, his conjugal life has by far been turbulent. He has been married three times so far. His first wife Meaghan Jane McCleary was a New Zealander who had appeared in his video song O Sanam of his album Sunoh. His second wife Inaya is Parsi. His third marriage was with the British celebrity Kate Hallam in 2010. Lucky hassired two children each from his first two wives and one from his third wife.
As the son of Mehmood and the nephew of the renowned heroine Meena Kumari, Mehmood availed ample chances to star in Bollywood films.As a child, his first film was Chote Nawaab (1962). He was only four years oldthen. Although he didn’t star in too many films, he had started appearing frequently in the 70s and early 80s.The films Yeh Hain Zindagi (1977) Hamare Tumhare (1979) and Shyam Benegal ‘s Trikaal (1985) had cast him. He also appeared in Shyam Benegal’s television series Bharat Ek Khoj (1988) which was based on Jawaharlal Nehru’s book ‘The Discovery of India’. After apresumptuousexile of a few years, Lucky returned to acting in the year 2002 for the film Kaante, which was directed by Sanjay Gupta. In this, he had the privilege to work alongside stars like Amitabh Bachchan, Sanjay Dutt, Kumar Gaurav and Suniel Shetty. Lucky also appeared in the serial Zara Hatke during that time. In the same year, the movie Sur- The Melody of Life (2002) starred him both as an actor andas a singer.
Born: 19 September 1958
Place of Birth: Mumbai (Maharashtra), India
Residence:
Occupation: singer, musician, actor, lyricist, producer, philanthropist
Height: 5’ 10”
Years Active: 1962- present
Spouse(s): Meaghan Jane McCleary, Inaya, Kate Hallam (2010- present)
Children: Ta’awauz and Tasmia from Meaghan; and Sara and Raiyan from Inaya. Dani from Kate.
Demise:
Biographies of Indian Actors 