In his 24-year long career, Suniel Shetty has seen several highs as an actor. Today, however, he is an anxious father backing his son, Ahan. After all, the 20-year-old will soon be making his Bollywood debut. The proud dad fondly reminisces about his past while talking to us about his excitement and anxiety as his son's career is ready to roll. Excerpts...

Ahan is being launched by Sajid Nadiadwala. Didn't you want to launch your son? your son?
I'm a horrible producer. The day my son and daughter (Athiya) tell me that they are ready to produce films or start a production company of their own, I will back them fully. Even now, I'm backing my kids in whatever they wish to do. As for Sajid, I have known him even before I had shot my first scene! Over the years, he's become like family for us. I have seen him grow from a production person to a top producer and a director, too.So, when a man like him is at the helm of affairs, it's an assurance that things will not go wrong.

No matter how prepared a debutant might be or how big the banner is, there is always a risk that a film might not work...
Even the biggest debut can't assure you a great career. It's the choices you make and what you make of those choices that pave the way forward. Ahan will have a great launch pad with Sajid, but the journey from thereon will be his own. The silver lining is that he won't be left high and dry even if he sees failure at some point. Sajid will guide Ahan. He's among those few people who are not driven by the math but by sentiments. A three-film deal will not turn into a half-film deal if he faces bad weather at the box office.

Salman Khan had launched your daughter. Didn't you discuss launching your son with him?
For me, Salman bhai and Sajid bhai are the same. Theirs is a rare friendship in show business that has blossomed over the years. I had spoken to him about Ahan but he told me that Sajid had a great script which would be apt for my son's debut. In fact, he asked Sajid to meet Ahan. And that's how he set the ball rolling. He'll always be there to support us.

It's a known fact that Ahan had been prepping for his Bollywood debut for a while but at what time did you think that he was ready to dive in?
I can safely say that he was born to act but till the day he's not ready to face the camera, no one will push him. He has to tell us that. He has that window with Sajid, too, who treats him like a son. Sajid has kept everything ready for him. He just has to say, 'Yes, let's roll.'

Today's actors are in a far more competitive space than before. Does that make you nervous?
As a father, I feel a bit anxious. Now, the boys are far more prepared than we were when we entered the industry, and they're phenomenally talented, too. You can't match Ranbir Kapoor's acting abilities, Ranveer Singh's energy and Sidharth Malhotra and Aditya Roy Kapur's onscreen charm. There's so much to compete with; each actor bears a different stamp. I've told my son to hold himself firmly, come what may. He should imbibe something from each one of his seniors and peers. That's the only piece of advice I've given him so far.