Lucky’s wanderlust has taken him places and made him dabble with professions you wouldn’t associate with passionate musicians. He embarked on a journey that was strikingly similar to western pop legend/actor Johnny Cash. If Johnny Cash showed the western world what happens when rural sensibilities and values mix musically with the urban environment, then Lucky Ali would be his Indian counterpart.

So, what makes Lucky Ali tick? Delve deeper and the mystery unravels…

He was born Maqsood Mehmood Ali to Bollywood comedian Mehmood Ali and Mahelaka. The name ‘Lucky’ was his father’s tribute to him, celebrating the first big break he got, the day his son was born. “But I was not lucky for myself. I think luck is just a misnomer, and success solely depends on hard work and how you present it in cinema,” says Lucky.

Lucky went to boarding school at a very tender age, and this resulted in a big disconnect with his family. During his childhood, the faces of his family members were all a blur, especially his father’s. On one occasion, he recognised the popular comedian Mehmood, before realising it was his own father! Definitely not a compliment to the role Mehmood played as a father, and the impact it had on his son.

But, despite Mehmood’s hectic work schedule and the time he spent away from his family, he managed to inculcate some lasting values that Lucky cherishes even today.  “My dad was strict – just like the coconuts you have in Kerala, tender within, but hard on the outside. He taught me to keep things simple and express things genuinely, without beating around the bush,” says Lucky.

Lucky was fortunate enough to be born into a respectable family, but found it difficult to keep pace with expectations that were larger

than life. Being a free spirit, he was a little hazy about his goals, and ambiguity pervaded his mind when it came to making a distinctive career choice. “I had no idea whether I wanted to be an actor, a singer or a merchant naval officer. I had a tough time convincing my dad that I was not a looser and that I could put in the hard work necessary to achieve my goals.”

His strikingly simple, yet soulful ballads brought him immeasurable fame only because he played music that was true to his heart. “My success came as a big surprise to my dad, and that’s when I realised that I actually did it for him,” says Lucky, reflecting on what he achieved to please his father.

He chanced upon love early in life and wasted no time in tying the knot, knowing full well he was not a one-woman man. Today, he is a husband to three wives, a father to four children with the fifth on the way. This works for him because he treats all his wives and children equally, with the love and respect they deserve.

Always the non-conformist, Lucky did not want to be shackled by the music industry. The till of the land and breeding of horses held as much appeal to him as the performing arts. “I want to pick up things and do some work, not just go to an office and sit there,” says Lucky.

He has a new project in the offing in Bangalore, which is neither a song nor a movie – it’s a way of life. It is a holistic experience that promotes a symbiosis of organic agriculture, good health and good food, coupled with spa treatments. Lucky sees this as an opportunity to meet different people, connect with them and learn from them.

Lucky lives by the principle that ‘there’s so much to do in life, and so little time to do them’. He has greatly enjoyed the rollercoaster that has taken him places, given him new experiences and brought him home to a loving family. He has lived life to the fullest and stands by the intriguing life he has led. “I’m just passing by; you never know if there’ll be another tomorrow,” says the philosopher in Lucky.

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