When Suniel Shetty and Ahan Shetty sit down together, the conversation is as much about cinema as it is about courage and strength — to be vulnerable, to withstand judgment, and to allow each other the freedom to fall, rise, unlearn and recharge. On the Bombay Times Lounge, Suniel brings his trademark candour and talks about the dangers of both success and failure, while Ahan reflects on carrying a celebrated surname without letting it define or confine him. The full, unfiltered conversation drops tonight on the Bombay Times YouTube Channel, offering a rare, intimate look at what it means to stand tall together under the spotlight. Excerpts:

Ahan: Dad shows his vulnerable side, not just at home, even outside. He shows his emotions; he is who he is, and that’s why people love him.

Suniel: You have to be vulnerable, as that’s the side of you that your kids see, else you will be putting up a façade. At the recent Border 2 event, if I got teary-eyed, that was the father in me. That moment mattered to me most when Ahan came next to me and placed his hand on my back – that’s when my emotions flowed. When it comes to your children, I think parents are most vulnerable and become a completely different person.

Suniel: That is the scary part. I have told my kids that I know you’ll see success and handle it, but will you be able to handle failure? Because it’s a ruthless world out there. It’s a virtual world. Abuse is abuse. And being first and not right is what news is often all about. And that can destroy an individual. So, I tell my kids to be ready for that. Make sure that notifications and approval are not what your life is all about. Cut off when you have to. Engage, let people know what you are up to and then disconnect.

Ahan: It is hard. But I think we’ve grown up in an environment where dad kept us away from everything, so Athiya and I had a world beyond movies. A lot of my friends are not from the industry, and I think that is very important to have before you step into a career like this. You need to be grounded. You need to have those friends who tell you, “Hey, relax!”

Suniel: That’s the sad part about sports, cinema and politics. You’re in the public eye and have to constantly prove yourself. We’ve got another kid at home (K L Rahul) who is a cricketer and has to constantly prove himself. They (Athiya, K L and Ahan) sit together and share things. It’s important to have a family that can actually tell you what it is to handle the highs and lows. We talk about individuals and freedom. I think what we need is the joint family system, where the family can help you handle the highs and lows in life because both could be dangerous at times.

Ahan: She’s my go-to person for anything and everything. I’ve seen her grow and mature so much more throughout this journey of motherhood. It’s surreal for me to see her in that way.

Suniel: It is tough. It is his journey, his choice of films and I’m absolutely fine with that. But apart from that, if you’re going to take a potshot at my son, I’d sit down once, I’d sit down twice, then I’m a Shetty boy and old school is old school. I will not let go. I will take you on. I will take you on the way you want me to take you on, because I’m clean and honest here, and also fearless. It’s only when you are honest that you are fearless. That’s the way it is going to be. I didn’t interfere during his debut film, Tadap, even once, nor did I say I want to see even one frame of Border 2 during its making. For this film, only when they told me to be there at an event, I was there. It’s my son’s film, so it’s my film and I’ll do it. It’s his journey, of course, I will keep guiding him whenever he needs me, as my years of experience have taught me a lot.

Ahan: At times, I do, even Athiya does, and we tell him. I think she is more assertive. We know how far he can go for someone, and we know how much he can do for a person, so it’s like we have to hold him back.

Ahan: We definitely have, maybe it will happen when the time is right. I’ve taken that step in a way, by being a part of Border 2, and being a part of an iconic film franchise that my father was a part of.

Ahan: Carrying my father’s legacy forward is very important to me. Obviously, I have his name, and I want to carry forward that name. The pressure is there and will always be there, but I try not to focus on that. A lot of people on social media say, ‘You’ll never be like your father.’ I know I’ll never be like him. I can’t compare myself to him and I won’t. This is my journey. I just hope that I can be true to myself and be honest in terms of my performances and with the people around me.

Two generations. One powerful surname. And a story that goes far beyond the movies. Suniel Shetty— one of Hindi cinema’s original action heroes, known for his discipline, grit and integrity, and Ahan Shetty — a bright, young actor finding his voice in an industry driven by clicks, commentary and constant comparison. Our next guests on the Bombay Times Lounge are the father–son duo, sitting down for a rare, unfiltered conversation — moving from Border to Border 2, from fame to family, from nepotism to self-belief. This isn’t just about a surname. It’s about the family behind it and the bonds that tie them. The promo drops today. Here’s a sneak peek into the conversation. Watch out for the full episode coming soon on the Bombay Times YouTube channel.

“We always want our kids to be happy, and I am not talking about success. I’m scared of failure in the industry and not of success. In other fields, when you fall, you get up and start walking. Here, when you fall, the world looks at you, and they make you feel that you’re nothing. People feel that Hindi film actors are illiterate; they don’t know anything. We know a lot and we are smart. In today’s times, failure is sometimes more celebrated than success. It’s a fact.”

“Today, people just react to what they see in a 2-3 second clip. That’s what’s happening in my generation. We’re being put up against each other. I know there are comparisons between Ahaan Panday and me. I know that guy. I know how hard he’s worked for his film and everything that he’s done to prepare for it. There’s no competition between us. We have our own careers. There is so much love and respect amongst each other and that is what needs to come out. We’re all one industry. Social media has created a divide and that’s why you don’t see so much support for one another.”

“Has anybody seen the film (Border 2)? Nobody has seen the film. We’ve seen glimpses of the film. Varun Dhawan will kill it in the film, he’s outstanding. Varun is not playing himself; he is playing a decorated officer who’s given his life for the country. So, I think we should think a little bit before we go out there and say these things. Today, it’s very easy to trash someone and run them down.”

Talking about self-belief and dignity, Suniel says, "I am who I am, but my attitude depends on who you are. You treat me right, and I treat you like a god and a goddess. If you don’t, then you don’t even exist for me in a room. And that’s my approach to everything today. That’s the confidence I go with. I tell everybody that all of you have that in you. Bring out the ‘X’ factor in you and see the difference."

“It’s been a long journey since Tadap came out in 2021. It’s definitely not been easy. I mean, the whole nepotism debate comes up a lot. I’ve always accepted it. My father is an actor, and I wanted to be an actor. I think it is important to stay focused on what you want to do and not let the noise around you affect you too much. I focus on giving my director and producer my 200 per cent.”

“I’m very close to a lot of the actors in the industry. But at the same time, it’s not that I socialise with them. That respect is there from a work perspective and for the kind of individual that they are. If you tell me that ‘X’ is not a good person, that means nothing to me. It is my judgment of the person that matters. I don’t judge; we never judge. At home, we don’t talk about careers at all, we talk about character. It is about how you behave, whether it is Rahul, Athiya or Ahan.”

“Right now, our world and all our conversations at home revolve around Evaarah (Athiya’s daughter). She’s brought us closer and we even went on a family trip together after 15 years. Dad’s mornings begin with Evaarah – playing with her, feeding her. In the evening, all of us get together at home with her. It’s all about her.”

Ask Ahan which films of his father’s he would want to be a part of, and he says, "I’d love to be a part of Hera Pheri, I love that franchise. Fortunately, I am part of Border 2, which was one of dad’s films that I have always been inspired by."

At the end of the interview, this writer whips out her phone to message a friend: If this is what 60 can look like, we needn’t be afraid.

Camel cargos, white tee, and a chic man bun, actor Suniel Shetty is on time, ready to handshake hello at Bandra’s Mehboob Studio. His generation remembers him as the soft-spoken action star, having found fame with movies like Mohra, and later as the Supandi-style funny man in Hera Pheri, and the dark lover to Shilpa Shetty in Dhadkan. These days he is experiencing an excitement not very different from those days. Ahan Shetty, 25, debuts in Bollywood this Friday with Milan Luthria-directed Tadap. Produced by Sajid Nadaidwala, it stars Tara Sutaria opposite him in a love-gone-sour tale.

 

Ahan takes a seat beside his father, the Tulu genes shining bright. Ebony haired, he is strapping but smiles readily; he looks sure of himself without being cocky. Together, they make the unlikely celebrity dad and unusual star kid. In a freewheeling interview, their first together, they speak of living the “un-Bollywood life”.

Suniel Shetty: I don’t think there is that massive a change. But yes, numbers have become more important. We used to have a ‘house-full’ board back then, now box office returns are important. There is a lot more transparency. The kids [making their debut] are more prepared, and this is not true of just my son, but for all young people. It took me 25 films to achieve the quality of work they are putting out in their first movie. I ask Ahan, ‘How do you guys do it?’ I think we came in as professionals to become stars, they have come to become actors, and deliver to the expectations of the audience. That’s what makes it so exciting.

Ahan Shetty: I think there is more visibility because my father is an actor, and I have met directors and producers in an informal setting [because of him]. I don’t want to say it’s harder [if you are a star kid]. It’s hard. Period. There is [extra] pressure. They do want to see me do the same thing he did. But I cannot let it get to me. You lose your sense of direction, and start listening to other people. You have to keep your head down, and keep the noise away.  

AS: Absolutely. Athiya and I went to the American School, so it didn’t matter who my father or mother was. They would come for the football games and every other school event. Dad was extra supportive; he’d walk down to the field, and I had to tell him, “calm down”. Despite a long career in the industry, he hasn’t been part of Bollywood in a sense. He wanted us to stay away from the limelight.

SS: The intention of putting them in the American School was not to prove that we are a cut above the others, but to make it clear that nobody there cares about who you are. You miss PTA, you are on the watch list. I had to know what was happening in my son’s life. I went to school like any other parent would. That’s in my lineage. We are simple. Everyone [in the family] was interested in art and architecture... normal people. There is a reason why he has grown into who he is.

AS: Dad took us to the 2003 Cricket World Cup, and school was on at the time. They allowed me to go, but after asking me to write a report on my experiences.

SS: We were always their friends. And we befriended Athiya before Ahan. There was no distinction. She was busy looking at schools, and then she said she wanted to be an actor, and it took me five minutes to tell her, then follow that dream. Even with Ahan... [I told him] don’t do what you don’t want to. My dream was to play for the country; his inclination was towards art and drama. He took up drama as a major in high school, and travelled with his drama teacher all over the world.

AS: No. This is the only plan. If I had an alternative, I wouldn’t be as committed or dedicated.

AS: Definitely. I am happy that my first film is going to a theatrical release, but I am totally open to acting in a web series. It gave a lot of people work during the last few years. I want to do it all; it’s all only about the performance.

AS: It was great to play a character who displays contrasting personalities. It was almost like a double role. When I challenge myself, I do well. I was very thankful to Milan and Sajid for that.

SS: I am an extremely emotional person, and it hasn’t sunk in [that he’s making his debut]. It’s not a typical star son launch—there is no dancing, beautiful clothes or martial arts. He plays a normal guy. My first cheque came from Sajid Nadiadwala, and three decades later, he has given my son his first cheque. And then there is Milan. Ahan needed a guru, and Milan is that. I watched the movie and asked Ahan, “Are you uncomfortable with romance?”, and he said “No, dad. This boy is a small town guy. He has never touched a girl.” I knew then that he had got into character.

AS: He told me never fear Fridays. Don’t be scared. You learn from failure. When I decided to be an actor, he told me if you can’t be known as a good actor, be known as a good human being. Just be who you are. 

SS: Honestly, I think that kids watch and learn. It’s about how I have led my life, respected my directors, producers, or the light men and spot boys. People have always told me, oh this one is so big, that one is so big! I say, if you really want to know who is big, ask the fighter boy who just got hurt: who is the one who asked him if he is fine? In the past, actors like us interacted with our unions; that’s not the case anymore. That’s why when someone is banging and hammering you, no one stands up for you. They did for Sanjay Dutt and Salman Khan. When they were going through hell, people stood up. 

OTT screening platforms were like oxygen for the industry in the last two years. But the father [of entertainment] is cinema. We shouldn’t take it for granted, and we need to deliver good content consistently.

Every time a star kid is launched in the industry, it reignites the insider-versus-outsider debate. Things aren’t too different for Ahan Shetty who is Bollywood-bound with Tadap.

Naturally, we start our chat with the obvious question: Did actor-father Suniel Shetty help him bag his debut film? “Not at all,” exclaims Ahan, before adding, “I had uploaded a few dance and action videos on Instagram. Sajid sir [Nadiadwala, producer] saw them and reached out to one of my dad’s friends. He, in turn, called my dad to say that Sajid sir wants to meet me. When I met him, he wanted to know if I could act. I sent him a few clips that had me performing scenes, which he liked. That [led to my] signing the contract.”

Even as he narrates the events, it isn’t lost on Ahan that being a star kid has its advantages. “Being Suniel Shetty’s son does put you [on the map]. But I feel I got this film because I worked hard and proved myself to Sajid sir. After the film releases, I will understand if I deserve to be here.”

Tadap, a remake of Telugu film RX100 (2018), is an intense romantic drama of two star-crossed lovers, played by Ahan and Tara Sutaria. As someone who swears by tragic love stories, the actor was thrilled to be part of one. “The Vow [2012] is one of my favourite movies. This is the type of film I want to do. There isn’t a sense of fear because I like to take on challenges. This film was difficult because given the two different personalities my character has, it was almost like playing a double role.”

Seeing himself on the big screen was Ahan’s aspiration since he was 11. “I am an introvert, so acting helped me bring out my emotions through different [roles]. Athiya [sister] had gone to the New York Film Academy. [When I was considering going there], she said it was pointless as the things they teach there are different from what we do [in India]. So, I focused on martial arts and weapon training, working on my physique and Hindi [diction].”

Ahan Shetty is ready with his debut film, Tadap, which releases next month. Obviously, the 26-year-old is “super excited” about his movie, which also stars actor Tara Sutaria. 

Actors with families in the film industry often are launched by their star dads but Ahan’s dad Suniel Shetty isn’t launching him. Ask him why and he replies, “I didn’t feel comfortable with dad producing my debut film as I didn’t want to pressure him. I wanted to be an actor for myself. So, I wanted to train as hard as possible and thought that if I got an opportunity, as I did with Sajid Nadiadwala (filmmaker) sir, I’d take it.” 

Ahan got interested in dramatics in sixth grade, and four years later, he knew he wanted to become an actor. “As I am an introvert, portraying different emotions through my performances felt like freeing myself, and was therapeutic,” Ahan says and adds that he trained in diction, martial arts, dance, etc., for two years prior to the movie.

Explaining why Tadap took five years from signing to release, Ahan says, “While I signed the film in April 2016, the shoot started in 2019 but we had to stop shooting in March 2020 due to the pandemic. It was a huge gap between shoots. I was confused, angry and anxious about things taking so much time. I had lost 14 kilos during the lockdown, and regaining the physicality was a challenge. Covid-19 took a lot from everyone, not just me. “

In the film, he will be seen as an action hero, which adds a slight pressure because he is Suniel Shetty’s son, who is known for his action films. “But the idea is to not let that get to you. I don’t want to be labelled as an action hero. I want to do all kinds of films with good content, and my main focus is on my performance. I’ve been on dad’s sets but never paid any attention as a kid, and at home, we hardly ever talked about films. My dad’s advice to me is to ‘be known as a good human being even if you are not known as a good actor’,” he shares.

Often, young actors aren’t open about their relationships, but Ahan has not hidden his relationship with Tania Shroff (fashion designer and influencer). “I will never hide my relationships. We have been together for 10 years,” he concludes.