Actor-producer Suniel Shetty has many memorable roles to his name on screen, but the role that has shaped him the most is the one he has played off screen — that of a parent. On Parents’ Day today, Suniel reflects on how becoming a father changed the way he looked at responsibility and the choices he made as an actor.

“When I became a father, I carried this image of an actor very responsibly. I made sure that I didn’t do films that I was gonna be embarrassed about tomorrow. Success and failure are not an embarrassment. It’s the roles that you do and that you regret is what embarrassment is all about, and that’s why I chose films which had national pride in it; pride of the uniform,” he says. Last year, Suniel stepped into the shoes of a father on screen too, as he played actor Khushi Kapoor’s dad in Nadaaniyan.

Speaking about being a parent to his children — actors Athiya Shetty, 33, and Ahan Shetty, 30 — Suniel believes that the responsibility of parenthood never truly ends, no matter how old children become.

“As a parent, you always have your children’s comfort in the back of your mind driving your decisions. So whether it’s career, health, or parenting, that is something that will always be a concern,” he says, adding, “That is the beauty of parenthood, the beauty of being a mom, dad, grandma or grandpa.”

For the 64-year-old, watching his children carve their own paths has been a source of pride. Athiya began her career as an actor in 2015 but chose to step away from the profession to focus on her family after marrying cricketer K L Rahul in 2023 and welcoming their daughter, Evaarah Vipula Rahul last year. Ahan, meanwhile, had a challenging start to his acting journey with Tadap (2021), but found renewed success this year with Border 2.

Suniel shares, “I’m very happy with the way they’ve conducted themselves, the way they’ve projected themselves and the impact that they have on people and kids their age. But that concern, love, and that feeling of wanting everything to be fairy tale-like for your children, that is something that’ll never change.”

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."

After more than three decades in showbiz, Suniel Shetty is enjoying a second wind — on-screen success on one side and a brand-new role as a grandfather on the other. His career is soaring, his home is fuller, and life, he admits, has never felt richer. When his daughter Athiya married cricketer K L Rahul, he gained not just a son-in-law but “another son” alongside Ahan. Yet, fatherhood — and now grandfatherhood — comes with its own share of worries.

Earlier, he worried about Athiya and Ahan; now it is about Rahul getting trolled — especially after India’s disappointing loss to South Africa in the recent Test series. Rahul has now been chosen to lead India in the ODI series against South Africa.

“Initially I used to get deeply hurt, perhaps more than my children. They would tell me to remain calm and not feel bad. Today, I have realised it is all a part of a celebrity’s life, so it doesn’t affect me as much anymore,” shares Suniel, admitting that he still does not watch his son-in-law play. “There is too much stress involved.”

Though films and cricket usually dominate the public perception of their lives, at home the conversation rarely touches either. “We influence billions of people; [it is] a blessed position, hence important for us to behave right. Rahul is calm, respectful, and all about empathy, he adds strength to [the family]. Ahan and he are best friends [before being] brothers. His influence is stronger on them,” he says.

Becoming a grandfather to eight-month-old Evaara — born to Rahul and Athiya in March this year — has been “ten times more blissful”. He is ready to turn into a camel, horse, sheep, or even a fish for the little one. “There is nothing else that I want to do but be around her. I am willing to do everything for Evaara. She has a bit of Rahul, Ahan, and Athiya in her. Evaara has a birthday celebration every month on the 24th with cake and everything,” Suniel gushes.

Suniel Shetty is thrilled that his son Ahan has taken the mantle from him by featuring in ‘Border 2’, and “has finally found his mojo”. “It is the most beautiful feeling for me. Ahan is confident; I see absolute joy and pleasure on his face. Success and failure come, but to see that happiness on his face as a father is a different joy. It’s the only thing that I have ever wanted,” he says, beaming with pride.

The Shetty household is brimming with excitement this festive season as it marks a very special milestone — the family’s first Diwali with its youngest member, cricketer K L Rahul and actor Athiya Shetty’s daughter, Evaarah. Proud mamu, actor Ahan Shetty says the celebration feels “extra bright” this year.

“The last two years I wasn’t in Mumbai due to travel, but this year is different, it’s my niece’s first Diwali,” Ahan shares, adding, “There’s a lot more excitement because there are so many firsts. Unfortunately, Rahul is in Australia for India’s tour, but the rest of the family will be together.”

Ahan admits his little niece has become the centre of everyone’s attention. “She’s brought so much love and happiness. We already had that as a family, but it’s just amplified now with her around,” he says with a smile. On his new role as mamu, he adds, “I’ll be a mix of both, the fun one who pampers her and the slightly serious one when it comes to teaching her things.”

Watching his sister embrace motherhood has been a moving experience. “I see such a different side to Athiya now... so hands-on, nurturing and caring. Growing up, she was like a second mother to me, and now seeing her with her child makes me so proud. I’m also a bit relieved that all her protective energy has now shifted from me to Evaarah,” he laughs.

Currently filming Border 2, Ahan admits he’s on a strict diet but can’t resist festive treats. “I absolutely love motichoor laddoos. Even though I’m on a diet for the film, I allow myself some sweets during Diwali. It’s impossible to resist,” he says.

Reflecting on the meaning of Diwali, Ahan adds, “It’s about bringing in happiness, letting go of what’s past, and looking forward to what’s next. I’m in a phase where I’m reflecting on how far I’ve come and what lies ahead — this Diwali feels like the start of a new chapter.”

Suniel Shetty, a staunch supporter of sustainable living, highlights the need to embrace electric vehicles (EVs). He views EVs not as a passing trend but as a vital step toward a greener future. Practicing what he preaches, the actor often opts for his compact EV – an MG Comet – for shorter trips, effortlessly navigating narrow lanes and city traffic.

“For my daily work and a quick visit to Athiya’s (his daughter) house in Bandra I take my EV. It’s just too compact so it is easy to scoot in and move around. The best part is it is eco-friendly. Right now we are expecting the environment to work for us but I think it is important for us to work for the environment. So, each one of us should contribute by taking to EVs and planting more trees and cutting down on pollution,” he shares.

Suniel also talks about the importance of dispelling common misconceptions around EVs – like range anxiety, lack of charging stations, and maintenance issues – by educating people about the significant advancements in technology.

“People still think that EVs are only good for short journeys and that there are not enough charging stations. They are stressed about the servicing of the cars. Whenever there is something new in the market people are wary. Eventually, it is going to help with pollution control and smoother rides. Having said that, there is scope for more charging centres, and more awareness,” the actor explains.

His love for electric mobility doesn’t end with cars – Suniel is also a big fan of electric cycles. He uses these battery run cycles regularly at his farm. “I have one in my farm and I use it to get around everywhere. I can also hang it on my van and get it on my set,” says.

The electric cycle allows you to paddle when you want to, and shift to throttle as easily. “The speed is also limited so it is very safe. Plus, it’s perfect for my cardio and fitness.”

Actor Gauahar Khan has criticized actor Suniel Shetty for his comment after daughter Athiya Shetty gave birth to her baby the natural way. He said, “In a world where everybody wants the comfort of having a caesarean baby, she chose not to do that and had a natural delivery.”

Gauahar, who is currently expecting her second child with husband Zaid Darbar, spoke about her own pregnancy on her show MaaaNoranjan, and said, “There was something said by a big personality recently that c-section was an easier option. I wanted to scream and ask ‘How can you say that?’”

Talking about how there are “many myths related to c-section,” the 41-year-old added, “How can there be so much misinformation? And for a male celebrity to say that, [especially since he] didn’t go through pregnancy, carry a child or doesn’t know how painful a c-section can actually be.”

The actor also went on to add that “having a normal delivery or a c-section is not in a woman’s hands”.

The expecting mother also expressed her annoyance at people asking her how she chose to give birth to her son Zehaan: “A lot of people ask me, mostly women, if I had a normal delivery or a c-section. I don’t know why is this such a big topic. Both are equally tough and give you the same feeling of motherhood. But let me just put this chatter to rest — I had a c-section.”

As for Suniel, while he apologized for the comment, he said, “It has been completely blown out of proportion... To all individuals who were offended — even if I did not make the mistake — I will sincerely apologize to all the ladies out there because I honestly appreciate and revere them.”

The arrival of Athiya Shetty's baby girl, Evaarah, has brought immense joy to the Shetty household, with Suniel Shetty wholeheartedly embracing his new role as a grandfather. The actor's eyes light up as he talks about the little bundle of joy, for the first time with us. "That's all Mana (Shetty, wife) and I were looking for. It is the best feeling in the world." he says.

As he settles into his new role, Suniel shares his thoughts on grandfatherhood. "It is a feeling of bliss. There couldn’t be a better or a bigger feeling than this. They always say, ‘Mul se sut pyaara (interest is far, far more exciting when you receive it compared to the capital).”

With his schedule now revolving around his grandchild, Suniel, who was recently seen in Nadaaniyan, talks about managing his time with the baby. "Life is not hectic. That's the way my life was always. I work and I come back home, and I do that with a lot more excitement now. I look forward to coming back home and spending time with Mana and the baby. The biggest excitement in my life now is that child. And now I want to do everything with my granddaughter that I probably missed out on with Athiya and my son Ahan because I was constantly working. I was on call 24X7 with my work. Of course, I manage my time to the best of my ability. But today I need to do more. Evaarah is Athiya 2.0 for me."

On the work front, Suniel is currently shooting for the third instalment of Hera Pheri. Ask him how it feels to reunite with Akshay Kumar and Paresh Rawal, and he says, “The beauty of that is that we never felt that it’s been 25 years. Shooting for it didn’t feel that 25 years have gone by. It's just that we are looking different and now we have different get ups, but otherwise, we're the same. Everybody is the same, right from the producer to the director. We are just going to miss Om Puri dearly. He was one of the pillars of Hera Pheri 1.”

The actor who reprises his role of Shyaam in the movie, doesn’t reveal much about the plot, but he adds, “Even when we were shooting, it didn’t seem like we were playing a character. Nobody else can play those characters.”

There were rumours of Kartik Aaryan stepping into Akshay’s shoes for the sequel. Bring that up and Suniel says, “Whoever else was coming in was never supposed to replace anybody. He was coming as a new character, but now the makers have gone back to the old script and it is Hera Pheri 10 times more fun”.

Monday witnessed a mini ‘baby boom’ in Bollywood with two celeb couples announcing the arrivals of their bundles of joy. While actor Athiya Shetty and cricketer K L Rahul were blessed with a baby girl, actor-couple Amy Jackson and Ed Westwick welcomed their baby boy.

Athiya and Rahul shared the happy news with a joint post on Instagram. The couple posted a painting of two swans with a message that read: “Blessed with a baby girl”. The picture also mentions the baby’s birth date as “24-03-2025”.

Athiya and Rahul got married in 2023 after dating for over four years. In November 2024, the couple took to Instagram to announce the news of them expecting. They shared a joint note that read, “Our beautiful blessing is coming soon. 2025”.

Amy and Ed shared multiple pictures of themselves with their newborn on Instagram and revealed his name. The caption of their joint post reads: “Welcome to the world, baby boy. Oscar Alexander Westwick.”

Amy and Ed began dating in 2022 and got married in August 2024. Oscar is their first child together. Amy has a five-year-old son from a previous relationship with hotelier George Panayiotou.

In his 33-year career, Suniel Shetty has done only a handful of historical dramas. That’s one of the reasons why Kesari Veer, which sees him step into the role of Vegdaji Bhil, the 14th century king, is special to him. That the movie puts the spotlight on Indian history’s unsung heroes makes him equally proud. The period drama offers a retelling of how Vegdaji joined forces with Veer Hamirji Gohil, the king of Arthila in Saurashtra, to protect the Somnath Temple from the Tughlaq dynasty’s attack.

“We talk about dharma, seva, karma, and that’s what this film is about. Producer Kanu Chauhan’s late wife always wanted to do something with the Somnath Temple, which was plundered 14 times for its wealth, but it didn’t destroy the people’s spirit. It was such an interesting story that I said yes,” says Shetty.

Last week, the teaser of Kesari Veer, also starring Sooraj Pancholi and Vivek Oberoi, was unveiled. Prince Dhiman’s directorial venture sees Shetty sport a distinct look, complete with dreadlocks and rudraksh malas. Shooting the period drama in Gujarat and Maharashtra was a gruelling experience.

“It’s a larger-than-life character. Given the heavy costumes, the rudraksh beads, dreadlocks, and the heavy weapons, it was a physically challenging role. The hot weather, the costumes, made of leather and metal, and the hair added to the challenge,” reflects the senior actor. 

To portray a brave warrior, Shetty had to learn the use of weaponry, especially a heavy double-edged axe. “I had to bulk up and train hard as the weapon itself weighed 15 kilos. I had to fight with a hammer-like axe. I had to get used to that weight and balance myself.”

But understanding the character’s emotional make-up was a bigger task. Shetty says he channelled his paternal instinct to become Vegdaji for the screen.

He explains, “It’s a powerful role yet an emotional one. Vegda couldn’t give his daughter anything. But when Hamir [his son-in-law] went to war, Vegda promised his daughter that he’d give his life to save her husband. I connected emotionally to this film because I have a daughter too, and I would do anything for Athiya.”

Suniel Shetty is among the most loved people in the film industry. His daughter, Athiya, is aware of the respect her father has garnered over the years and hopes to imbibe his qualities. The actress is proud of her dad’s longevity as an actor and believes that his goodwill has helped him reach where he is.

“Everywhere I go, people talk about my parents’ goodwill. Any set that I go to, people talk about how much they like my dad, and when you hear people say such lovely things about him, you realise how hard it is to fill in his shoes. He is immensely loved and respected in the industry.”

She adds, “The same holds true for my mom (Mana). She has always held her own, worked towards being her own person and sacrificed her time to raise my brother Ahan and me. If there’s any quality of theirs that I would like to imbibe, it is the respect they have for people and their time. They are genuinely good-hearted people. If I can achieve even 5 per cent of the way they make people feel, I will be happy. They were strict with us while growing up, not in terms of getting good grades, but regarding giving people respect -- elders and peers. They raised us well.”

Elaborating on their equation, she says, “Neither of us are daddy’s or mommy’s children. There are certain things we can talk to dad about and not mom and vice versa. We have a great relationship with both our parents. Each relationship demands a different perspective and outlook. Growing up, our parents were like our friends even when the respect was always there. Ahan is way more righteous. If I am angry, it shows. I can argue with my parents, but he won’t. He never wants them to feel bad. He is more thoughtful that way. He thinks and overthinks. Personality-wise, I am more like my dad, while Ahan is a lot like my mom. In our family, we all balance each other out.”

With his 1983 film, Hero, completing 40 years, Jackie Shroff is feeling nostalgic. The film marked the actor’s debut in a lead role and he is grateful to director Subhash Ghai. “We sowed the seed 40 years back, and I am still reaping the benefits. Subhash ji brought me out of the chawl and made me a star. Unhone patthar ko hero bana diya,” he says.

With many older films and songs getting remakes, Jackie, who, too, has starred in a remake (Devdas, 2002), feels that there’s “nothing wrong” in it. “It’s a way to give a tribute to an iconic film and try to recreate the magic,” says the Jailer actor, adding, “It can’t be the same as the original, but it is the attempt that matters.”

In 2015, Hero was remade with actors Sooraj Pancholi and Athiya Shetty in the lead. Now, Jackie wants to see his son, actor Tiger Shroff star in a remake of the film: “I feel if it is remade again, it would turn into a beautiful one. I would like to see Tiger in it. Hero role mil gaya toh maza aayega as he would take my legacy forward. I hope he gets to work with good directors, like I did. I want the audience to give him the same love they gave me.”

Hero was the third-highest grosser that year and the songs were hit, too. However, the 66-year-old confesses that he didn’t think it would do well at the box office: “[When I was shooting for the film] I couldn’t believe what was happening around me. I starred alongside Meenakshi Seshadri, Shakti Kapoor and (late actor) Shammi Kapoor. I was scared to work with them. After the film’s release, my life changed.”

It’s Bhai Dooj tomorrow, and on the occasion, actress Athiya Shetty talks to us about the special bond she shares with her younger brother Ahan, which has significantly evolved over the years.

Diwali is the coming together of family for me. It was about reuniting with cousins and grandparents, gorging on yummy food and puja. It has always been tradition heavy. Growing up, we spent the festival in Goa a lot. The celebrations have evolved as we evolved. Now it’s become more special because I have my own home. We did a puja there for the first time this year.

I have many brothers. Six on each side of the family. So bhai dooj was about lots of masti and creating great memories. bhai dooj is not just a one-day thing. We celebrate siblings every day and ensure we catch up every Sunday when we go to my parents’ house for lunch. That’s a tradition we have been following since we were born -- cousins coming together and spending time together. I have a great relationship not just with Ahan but also my cousins. We may not be at the same place all the time, but our bond is solid.

Ahan and I used to fight a lot as kids. My mother wondered if we would ever get along in life. We have a 3-year age difference so the fights would be heavy, lots of physical beating as well. We were grounded almost every weekend because we would get into fights. Now we are best friends and buddies. He is the most important person in my life, and I am extremely protective of him. Everyone knows no one can mess with Ahan, else they will have to mess with me. Over the years it has become like that. We are each other’s sounding board today. We know how to deal with our parents if we are stuck in a sticky situation, we help each other out. There are so many girls who might say that they wish they had a sister, but I don’t feel that way. Ahan is a blessing for me. My parents gave me a little brother so that I can have this endearing friendship for life. I feel deeply indebted to them for it.

Ahan is the calm to my storm. I admire his calmness to the point that I am jealous of it. Both Ahan and Rahul are calm and composed. They are so sorted that it drives me crazy! I wish I was as calm as them. Ahan is loyal and a self-assured person. His morals are intact, and he is extremely righteous. Whoever he meets, he makes that person feel special, valued, respected, and important. Though he is the younger one, he is more like my elder brother. He is wiser, mature, honest and has had his head on his shoulders since he was a child. He is more responsible, is the voice of reason and balances out my personality. Whenever I need some advice, he will always give that objective, neutral perspective. He is very real with me. He is true to his words, and I respect that about him the most. I have always looked up to him for that. Our relationship has only got better. We don’t live at my parents’ house anymore as I have my own house and that has made me not take my family for granted. We look forward to spending quality time with each other now.

Occasionally we still have our fights, we argue. I constantly feel I need to protect him and ensure he is happy and doing okay. That can sometimes come across as overbearing but I am just that older protective sister. With siblings, everything is so organic. We will be screaming at each other and the next minute we will be fine and will talk casually as if nothing happened. You forget what you fought about. We are non-confrontational, chill, and super easy. I like that. As you grow older, you realize the importance of siblings. They go through life with you. They teach you to be a better person. They are your permanent friends. It’s a rewarding, free-flowing experience. Siblings make your life better and difficult at the same time (laughs).

Actor Suniel Shetty recently spoke about receiving calls from the underworld in the ’90s. Despite the toll it took on him, the actor recalls that he made sure he didn’t take the stress home, healing from those experiences on his own instead.

“The underworld was rampant here (in Mumbai). You know, I used to get calls saying, ‘I will do this, I will do that’,” Shetty recalled on the podcast, The Barbershop with Shantanu.

“I used to abuse back. I had cops telling me, ‘Listen, you’re crazy. You don’t understand, they’ll get upset and could do anything.’ I said, ‘But I’m not wrong, then protect me. What have I done?’ They wanted me to work in their films, they wanted us to go places that we didn’t want to go to. So, that’s the background I came from,” the 61-year-old added.

Shetty added that he told the truth to his parents, who stood for him, just like he and wife Mana Shetty do for their children, actors Ahan and Athiya Shetty. “I would blindly believe Ahan and Athiya for what they did. I will never not trust them,” he said, adding, “I have never told Athiya and Ahan what I have done. I have done some crazy stuff. Got injured, got out of it and self-healed.”

There has been a lot of excitement around the next instalment of the comedy classic Hera Pheri, especially after the actors (Akshay Kumar, Paresh Rawal, Suniel Shetty) were spotted shooting for a promotional video for the upcoming film. Suniel Shetty, who is super excited to reunite with the team, reassuring the fans of the classic, says, “We don’t want the legendary Hera Pheri to be impacted by any mistakes we make in the future.”

The actor, who is looking his fittest best, in a chat with us also talks about how martial arts helped him win a place in showbiz, his faith in the team of the cult comedy, and of course, his newest role in life – that of a father-in-law. Excerpts...

When we all got together for the shoot, it didn’t feel like so many years have gone by. It’s an amazing feeling to have Akki (Akshay Kumar) back in the franchise.

For me, Hera Pheri will always be about Babu bhaiya (Paresh Rawal), Raju (Akshay) and Shyam (Suniel) in that order, and it works best in that order. There have been a lot of speculations, but we are all aware of what the script is. The new Hera Pheri is going to be emotional and funny, which was also the beauty of the first film. It had very strong emotions of the common man and their struggles. I strongly believe that the new Hera Pheri will work only if the emotions are right.

I have always said that Kartik Aaryan was never taking over Akshay’s role in the film. Kartik is the new kid on the block who is extraordinary, but he cannot replace Akshay Kumar. Raju will always remain Raju, and the audience won’t accept a replacement for him. It (Kartik’s) was a new character, and now who’s playing that part or what happens to that character… I am clueless about it. Meanwhile, Akki wanted to (be a part of the franchise). Whatever transpired between the producer and him, Akki knows, but whenever I had spoken to Akki in the past, I had always told him that this film should be our top priority. He had also agreed saying, ‘Yes, this is a film we should work on’.

About the director, as long as Farhad is committed to the script, I don’t think there is a problem at all. Today, there is more than one director associated with this film and I say that because the actors are as involved in the project (as the director). None of us are going to make a fool of ourselves with this film. After all, we don’t want the legendary Hera Pheri to be impacted by any mistakes we make in the future. Even if it’s not as good but is remotely close to the original, and we can make a sensible film, we are happy. All I can say for now is that Farhad has done a brilliant job with the writing of the film. We should start rolling mostly in the second half of the year.

With Sanjay Dutt on board, the film will be a laugh riot, because Sanju’s sense of comedy is unbelievable. His comic timing and body language will add ek aur chaand to this project. He will take this to another level. We share a fantastic relationship and that will transpire on screen, too.

Mixed Martial Arts is the highest paid sport in the world. In India it took off late, but it has taken over boxing today. Through the show I could see talent coming in from remote places, where they probably didn’t have proper infrastructure and training, yet,some of them could have the ability to represent India soon in the world of MMA. As far as I am concerned, I got into films because of my martial arts background. I practiced kickboxing, and so my action came from there. When I began as an actor, people said that I was only an action star, and they called me wooden. It was action that gave me the opportunity to learn the rest of the craft, so I owe it all to action. My martial arts background has allowed me to stay fit and fight the way I do even at this age.

I don’t know what the role of a father-in-law is. The only role I know is that of a father. I am blessed to have a son like Rahul. He has blended beautifully with our family, because he is a simple guy and that is exactly how we are.

Well, Athiya always wanted something intimate. There were hardly 70-80 people attending the wedding. It was very satisfying as we could attend to all our guests personally. I thought a lot of people would be upset (for not being invited), but instead, they appreciated it. Nothing has changed between Athiya and me as far as our equation is concerned. Earlier, it would be five phone calls a day, but today, gudiya and I make 15 phone calls to each other. Now, we don’t take things for granted and look forward to spending time with each other.

On January 23, cricketer K L Rahul and actor Athiya Shetty tied the knot at Shettys’ Khandala farmhouse, beginning a new chapter of their love story. Little is known about their romance as the couple had kept it largely away from the public glare. It turns out Suniel Shetty too was initially unaware of his daughter’s blossoming friendship with the cricketer. On a recently-shot episode of The Kapil Sharma Show, the senior actor revealed how he first met Rahul at an airport in 2019.

The senior actor shot for the comedy show, as part of the promotions for his upcoming MMA show Kumite 1 Warrior Hunt. Suniel was joined by wrestlers The Great Khali, Mahavir Phogat and mixed martial artist Ritu Phogat on the episode. After discussing the upcoming reality show, host Kapil Sharma steered the conversation to Suniel, asking him about his first meeting with his son-in-law. 

Recounting the chance meeting, the senior actor shared, “I had the pleasure of meeting Rahul first at an airport. I was thrilled to learn that he was from Mangalore, my hometown. I was a big fan of him, and was happy to see that he was doing well. When I came home and shared the news with Athiya and Mana, they didn’t say much; they just exchanged looks with each other. Later, Mana came to me and said that Athiya and Rahul [were on] talking terms.”

What was Suniel’s reaction to that? He was thrilled, says the senior actor. After all, he was keen that Athiya meet boys who hailed from a similar cultural background. “I was surprised that Athiya had not mentioned it to me. [At the same time], I was happy as I always told Athiya to connect with south Indian boys,” he recounted.

Suniel was pleased to know that the cricketer, in his growing-up years, stayed close to the actor’s ancestral house. “Rahul’s house in Mangalore [where his parents live] is only a few kilometres away from my birthplace [Mulki]. So, this was a happy coincidence.”