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Lucky Ali says after father Mehmood’s death, he was left with no friends in Bollywood; opens up on failure of his 3 marriages

Lucky Ali recently revealed that despite going through three divorces, he continues to share a cordial bond with all his former partners and remains a devoted, responsible father to his five children. He also spoke on leaving Bollywood.

4 min readNew DelhiUpdated: Nov 11, 2025 03:06 PM IST

Lucky Ali changed the game for independent solo artists all over the country. (Photo: Instagram/Lucky Ali)

We all know Lucky Ali for his timeless song “O Sanam”, but few know that he was married three times—and that he shares a deep familial connection with the legendary “Tragedy Queen” Meena Kumari. His mother, Madhu Kumari—also known as Mahliqa—was Meena Kumari’s sister, and the two shared an inseparable bond. Meena adored Lucky as if he were her own child. Now living a quiet, contented life on the outskirts of Bengaluru, Lucky Ali recently opened up about his journey—his marriages, his career, and what led him to step away from the limelight.

Lucky Ali on leaving Bollywood

Speaking to Navbharat Times, Lucky reflected, “There was a time I acted in films and sang songs, but eventually I didn’t know what more to do. I wanted to sing in my own style—O Sanam was born out of that search for freedom. In 2015, I distanced myself from the industry. People had misbehaved with me, but it wasn’t toxicity that drove me away—it was the monotony. After my father’s death, I felt there was nothing left for me there. I didn’t even have friends.” Lucky is actor-comedian Mehmood’s son, who was a superstar in his own right.

Despite moving away from Bollywood, Lucky remains grateful for the experiences and people that shaped him. “I worked with Shyam Benegal on Trikal and Bharat Ek Khoj and learnt immensely from artistes like Naseeruddin Shah, Shabana Azmi, and Om Puri. Years later, I returned to music to find my own voice. I had realised that if my talent was genuine, people would listen—and if not, they would reject me.”

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Lucky Ali on marriages not working out

He also opened up about his personal life, candidly admitting that none of his marriages worked out. Lucky first married Meaghan Jane McCleary, with whom he had two children. His second marriage was to Inaya, a Persian woman, and they too had two children. In 2010, he tied the knot with British model and former beauty queen Kate Elizabeth Hallam, with whom he has a son; the two divorced in 2017.

“It’s not necessary that you start and end life with the same partner,” Lucky shared. “I married thrice, each time in a different country, and every situation was unique. Even my father married outside India, so our home environment was very global. None of my marriages worked, but all my relationships are still alive. We don’t live together, but we are always there for each other. I have always been responsible towards my kids. I believe the only true way of parenting is through love—children learn from what they see their parents do.”

Lucky Ali’s father, veteran actor Mehmood, married Tracy—a US resident—after parting ways with his first wife, Madhu Kumari.

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‘Would bunk school to see aunt Meena Kumari’

Reminiscing about his late aunt Meena Kumari, Lucky’s tone turned nostalgic.

“She was like my mother—an extremely loving and strong lady. She always stood by us and supported my mom. I used to bunk school just to see her. Whenever she fell sick, I would visit her, and she would smile and tell me, ‘Go back to school.’ She loved me a lot.”

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