Meanwhile, Suniel Shetty is storming South films, asserts language barriers don’t matter anymore
Himesh Mankad (MUMBAI MIRROR; May 19, 2020)

Suniel Shetty, who took a break from acting to spend time with his ailing father, returned to films as the antagonist in the Sidharth Malhotra-led action-thriller, A Gentleman. Soon after, he crossed over to the South film industry. After playing Sudeep’s mentor in the Kannada sports-drama, Pailwaan, the 58-year-old actor signed up for a face-off with Rajinikanth’s cop in A R Murugadoss’s Tamil action-thriller, Darbar. Now, he is gearing up for the release of Priyadarshan’s Malayalam period-drama, Marakkar - The Lion Of Arabian Sea.

“Films like Baahubali and KGF, and digital platforms, have bridged the gap between the Hindi audience and films from other regions. Language barriers don’t matter anymore,” Suniel explains his foray down South, adding that he was also drawn to them because of the projects, the money offered and the respect he got there. “Darbar and Pailwaan are in line with my stature. I’d rather make an impact with a big film, even if it doesn’t revolve around me, than sign up for junk.”

The actor also has the Hollywood film Fraudsters, to be dubbed in Telugu as well, and another Hindi-Telugu bilingual, in the offing. Priyadarshan’s film, fronted by Mohanlal, was to release on March 26 before the nation-wide Coronavirus lockdown was announced. Instead of sighing over the delay, Suniel chooses to rave about the action done by an international team with its production values. He is sure it will appeal to a wider audience.

One of his most iconic comedy films, Hera Pheri, completed 20 years on March 30. It is frequently in the news with talks of a sequel. “Everything is on hold for now. The film’s team intends to make Hera Pheri 3, but some differences need to be ironed out first. The film is a big hit on television as well as in the meme world and we are all aware of the anticipation among the audience for the film,” Suniel signs off.

Now a familiar face in South Indian films, the actor talks about riding the choppy waves of public adulation
Kunal Guha (MUMBAI MIRROR; March 15, 2020)

At 58, Suniel Shetty is still built like a tank. He brushes his hands over his salt-and-pepper beard as he settles down for this interaction at his Aaram Nagar office. The actor may have slipped off the Hindi film radar, but he has been making waves down South. In recent months, he’s shared the screen with Rajinikanth (Darbar), Kichcha Sudeep (Pailwaan) and will soon be seen in Mohanlal’s epic period war film Marakkar - The Lion Of Arabian Sea. “The passion to create and love for life” is what keeps him going, he says. “There’s a generation that has forgotten me and a younger generation that respects me for my fitness, rather than for my films,” he says. “They think you’re yesteryear’s [star]… but they don’t know why you’re not working.”

Shetty shares that he was comfortable with his extended sabbatical; he never thought he’d end up working in South Indian films, despite having done cameos in the past [Kalimannu (2013) and Kakkakuyil (2001)]. “I didn’t want to do a negative role and any actor from Bollywood who goes there is offered just that. They believe that you’re a national-level hero, so if any of their heroes can beat you up, it’s the best thing ever.” His recent film choices, he says, were driven by passion and uncertainty. “When you’re back from a long sabbatical, the best work doesn’t come your way and I wasn’t even sure if I can act,” says the actor credited for 128 films.

The response that Darbar and Pailwaan received, however, encouraged him to consider more projects. In the forthcoming Mosagallu, he dons the avatar of a powerful cop, while he plays a 16th century warrior in Marakkar - The Lion Of Arabian Sea. Unsurprisingly, Shetty’s invincible action hero image from the 1990s still has traction. He credits veteran actor Danny Denzongpa for helping him carve this image in his debut Balwaan (1992). “When we were brainstorming on how to make my character seem powerful, Danny Sa’ab suggested that I carry him on my shoulders and then drop him. The last person who had lifted him up in a movie was Amitabh Bachchan in Khuda Gawah. This tip worked like a charm.”

But at 58 it’s getting tougher to keep up with that image. Of an action sequence shot for Darbar, where he was expected to “fall and throw five kicks and six punches”, he says, “I asked a 19-year-old assistant if he felt I’ll pull it off, and he said ‘Very easily, sir’. Then, I asked him how old his father is, and he said 54. I told him, ‘I am 58, so if your dad can do it, I’ll do it’.”

Shetty made several attempts to shake the image of a brooding, death-defying action star, but it was never “accepted”. “I tried comic and socially-relevant films too, but they didn’t work,” he says. “My producers would only say, ‘Do action scenes aur ek baarish mein gaana daal dena, body dikhake’.” In fact, the feedback he received from his family for his non-action films was just as telling. “I would ask my parents and kids, ‘How’s the film?’ and they’d say ‘Brilliant’ and then later, ask for a Saridon. So, you know where you stand.”

Post Hera Pheri (2000), a milestone in Shetty’s chequered career, many were convinced that he also had the chops for comedy. “And that was validation for an actor who was dismissed by critics as ‘absolutely wooden’,” he says. But there was always a back-up plan. Shetty ran a restaurant and boutique business before films and if acting didn’t work out, he would have to swallow his pride and listen to friends say, “Actor banne gaya tha, wapas aa gaya”. But since he had signed about 14 films even before his debut, there was no looking back.

Later, Shetty decided that rather than struggling to dazzle his audience with his performance, he would startle them with death-defying stunts. “I took on action stunts which were so dangerous, people would say ‘Alag hain’,” says the actor, who remembers that some of them actually lead to serious injuries. “While shooting for Mohra [the 1994 hit], when I lost a ligament, I was told to go for surgery but I couldn’t as 17 films were pending. Kitchen usi pe chal raha tha,” he says. “I would shoot for Mohra during the day and then strap my ankle and go shoot for Gopi Kishan at night. I’d only get two hours to rest — while commuting between Mukesh Mills and Filmistaan.”

Only time will tell if his son, who makes his debut this year with Milan Luthria’s remake of RX100, is cut from the same cloth. While Shetty believes Ahan will be able to handle success, he worries about how he will deal with failure. “There will always be brickbats, and nowadays, any faceless person can take pot-shots at an actor. But I’m sure Ahan will fight back,” he says.

Reflecting on his own experience, Shetty shares that when he started out, he was “barely ready to take on the world”. “We felt personality hain, we’ll wing it. But dialogue bhi bolna hain, naachna bhi hain and both haath aur pao ke saath nachna hain,” he says with a laugh. The actor got a lot of flak for his puppet-like moves and peculiar voice. “Every newbie thinks that you’re the next Bachchan. But then you watch your film and think ‘Sh*t, I really need to learn the craft’,” he says. Incidentally, this was what he told his daughter Athiya after her debut Hero opened to a lukewarm response. “Then, she really worked on her performance and the result can be seen in Motichoor Chaknachoor,” he says of her third film with Nawazuddin Siddiqui.

The actor, who counts Border (1997) as his most gratifying film and credits Dhadkan (2000) for helping him sharpen his craft, learnt lessons of his own along the way, too. “Dharmesh [director Darshan] told me ‘Just really believe you’re the character’. That’s when I realised that the most important thing for an actor to do is to invest 10 per cent mind and 90 per cent heart,” says Shetty, who does not grudge his peers their succes. “I don’t want to compete with the Akshays and the Ajays because you know you don’t stand a chance,” he says. In fact, he appreciates their strengths. “Jackie Dada’s [Shroff] personality is so loving and affectionate that if you give him attitude, he’ll just ignore you; Amit ji’s [Bachchan] humility makes you feel, ‘Amitji aise hain, toh main kaun hoon’, while Salman Khan has mastered the art of commanding attention and respect without saying a word,” he says.

Bollywood actor Suniel Shetty, whose new innings in films has him do characters in different shades, gets candid
Tanvi P S (BOMBAY TIMES; January 25, 2020)

Bollywood actor Suniel Shetty was on a self-imposed break for a few years — a time well-spent with his father, whom he lost thereafter — until his recent comeback with the multilingual Pailwaan, alongside Kichcha Sudeep. His return to films has also heralded in a new phase in his career, as he branches out into other industries. He’s already done Darbar with superstar Rajinikanth and is part of Mohanlal’s Malayalam film Marakkar as well. Amid all this excitement, Suniel made a quick trip to Bengaluru to be a part of a sports injury conclave, during which we caught up with him for a quick chat on films, fitness and fashion. Excerpts...

Your children, Ahan Shetty and Athiya Shetty, have followed in your footsteps and forayed into the film industry. Does it fill you with a sense of pride?
I have been a proud father right from the day they began school. They were well-behaved, humble, respectful students. Mana (his wife) has brought them up beautifully. Ahan and Athiya grew up around their grandparents, and have learnt good values, amid love and affection. What I am happy about is that they chose their careers and trained for it. A lot of people had expressed their concern over girls being in films (referring to Athiya). But I believe that as long as you are brave and confident, you can handle anything in the world. I remember being asked at a press meet once, ‘The film industry is such a shady place. What advice do you give your daughter about it?’ I replied, ‘I don’t give any advice to my daughter at all. Instead, I advise my son to treat women well.’ If everyone does that, there is no cause for concern.

The Class of 80s south actors are famed for organising annual get-togethers that most aim to attend religiously. Is there a trend like that in Bollywood?
There is no such trend in Bollywood, but when a team is working together, there is a tendency to meet up. But I stay further away from the city, and the journey back home is long and tiring. Also, I am very lazy, so I often skip going to such gettogethers. Once my shoot is done, I head back home and spend time with my family. On Saturdays, I usually catch up with my childhood friends. I have some amazing friends in the industry as well. I meet them whenever there is time.

Do you feel that by not socialising much, you may have missed out on movie opportunities?
I may have missed out on a few opportunities by not attending parties, but I don’t regret that. Sometimes, you need to make a choice in life, and I choose family over anything else. In my career, there was a four-year period when I did not work, but those were also the most beautiful four years of my life, because I spent time with those whom I love the most. And during that time, the media did not forget me. When a certain movie has done well and you ask me how I feel, I would say that I am feeling good. But in a movie like Darbar, I know that it has done well mainly because of Rajinikanth sir. Similarly, Pailwaan was a big hit, and the credit for its success goes mainly to Kichcha (referring to Sudeep). I accept that. I think I am in the happiest phase of my life. I respect everyone, but I am not insecure.

You are currently rocking a man bun. Tell us about your style mantra...
I sport a man bun, because I have hair on my head (laughs). If you are a sportsperson or an actor, you need to have your own style statement. There were times when we dictated fashion, but now fashion dictates us. The brands tell you what to wear, how to walk. I am old school, and I’ll stay that way. I will wear my hair and my beard the way I like it.

You have spoken about the recent cases of brutality on students. As actors, how important do you think it is to let your voice be heard?
Actors speak up on matters that we feel need to be talked aloud. Many artistes even voice their opinions through their films/craft. Having said that, things do get a little taxing, sometimes; expecting actors to call out every time doesn’t make sense.

What else is happening for you as far as films are concerned?
Hera Pheri 3 is in the making. There are certain issues regarding the film, but all three of us — Akshay Kumar, Paresh Rawal and myself — are working towards making it happen. There’s also an American film, titled Fraudsters. The story is inspired by a massive call centre scam that happened in India.
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SMALL TALK WITH SUNIEL SHETTY...

Are you the father who tells ‘dad jokes’ to his kids?
When I try to crack a joke, Athiya will, at least, respond to it. Ahan rolls his eyes and walks away. Perhaps, it’s the generation gap.

Is there someone you consider your style icon?
Jackie Shroff has always been my style icon. I think Dada (referring to Jackie) is still the most good-looking man on earth. It is not only about the clothes he wears, but also the way he carries it off.

You are a fitness freak. How does a cheat day look like for you?
Cheat-day dishes are whatever my mother cooks on a Sunday. Fish rawa fry and Kori Rotti (both Mangalurean delicacies) are my absolute favourites.

WILL DREAM GIRL TURN OUT TO BE AYUSHMANN KHURRANA’S 5TH CONSECUTIVE HIT?

Over the years, Ayushmann Khurrana has become a brand on its own. He had a bit of a rough time till 2017. But in the same year, he gave two films – Bareilly Ki Barfi and Shubh Mangal Saavdhan – that brought him back in the race. Last year was even better as Andhadhun and Badhaai Ho both became extremely successful. Both films earned numbers and were box office successes, with Ayushmann even getting a National Award for Andhadhun. Earlier this year, he came up with Article 15, a film that was too serious and yet generated excitement chiefly due to his presence. It was a well-made film too and both factors helped Article 15 earn Rs. 65.17 crores at the box office.

And now Ayushmann Khurrana will be seen in Dream Girl, which is all set to release tomorrow. The excitement for the film is tremendous due to its trailer and content. The actor plays the role of a person who fools gullible men (and even a woman) by talking in a female voice. Madness ensues as all these people fall for ‘Pooja’, the pseudonym adopted by Ayushmann’s character. The other actors in the film are Nushrat Bharucha, Annu Kapoor, Manjot Singh, Vijay Raaz and Abhishek Banerjee. Songs have also worked very well, especially Radhe Radhe and Dil Ka Telephone. A promotional track, Dhagala Lagali, was also released featuring Ayushmann Khurrana, Nushrat Bharucha and Riteish Deshmukh. It looks out of place since it’s a recreation of a Marathi song while the film is based in Mathura.

Nevertheless, the excitement is intact. Dream Girl is expected to take an opening of around Rs. 9-10 crore. If word of mouth is positive, a weekend of Rs. 38-40 crore can’t be ruled out. Even if response is not so great, the buzz is high enough and would still do decent business.

Dream Girl is not the only release. There’s also Section 375, featuring Akshaye Khanna, Richa Chadha, Rahul Bhat and Meera Chopra. It was to be earlier directed by Manish Gupta, who helmed The Stoneman Murders and Rahasya. But he had issues with producer Kumar Mangat Pathak which led to his ouster. BA Pass director Ajay Bahl then stepped in. The trailer of the film is powerful. With #MeToo still being fresh in people’s minds, it seems like a very relevant film. The excitement for the film is hardly there. And it’s a song-less film. Hence, the makers didn’t have the advantage of promoting the film through music. The opening will be less, around Rs. 1-1.25 crore. But the subject is such that if word of mouth is there, day 2 collections can be double of day 1.

The final release of the week is Pehlwaan. It is the dubbed version of the Kannada flick Pailwaan, starring Sudeep and Suniel Shetty. The Kannada version will take a smashing opening. But the Hindi version will open very poorly. There’s no awareness, forget excitement. It can open to around Rs. 30-40 lakhs.

WHICH FILM WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE AND WHY? DO LET ME KNOW!

Dabangg 3 antagonist Sudeep recounts how Salman Khan went from 'slightly overweight' to 'fit' for the climax that sees him shirtless
Sonil Dedhia (MID-DAY; August 26, 2019)

The anticipation around Dabangg 3 continues to build as the cop drama enters its last schedule. While fans are eagerly waiting to see Salman Khan reprise his role of Chulbul Pandey, the third edition also promises a worthy villain in Kannada actor Sudeep. Excited as he is to be part of one of Bollywood's biggest potboilers, the South sensation promises that the climax — which sees him lock horns with Khan — will be the highlight of the Prabhudheva-directed film.

"It is a showdown where both of us are seen bare-chested," says Sudeep, before adding that Khan hit the gym with a vengeance to do justice to the action sequence. "When we started shooting the movie, he was slightly overweight; it was because of his other commitments. He was aware that [he wasn't as fit as he would like to be]. So, he hit the gym, and within a month, he had a ripped body. At this age, his determination is unbelievable. It made me hit the gym every day as I didn't want to look like a joker in front of him," he laughs.

It isn't easy to match Khan on screen, more so in a franchise like Dabangg that has become his home turf. The Kannada star acknowledges that he had his fair share of apprehensions when the makers approached him for the project. "Salman is one of the biggest stars. So, you need someone with an equally strong personality to face him. I wondered why they had approached me. But when they explained the concept, I was convinced. Salman is full of life and treats me like family."

Before the Christmas release, Sudeep has another biggie in Pehlwaan. The drama, which has him essay the role of a boxer, has tested his physical prowess. "Shooting for the boxing and kushti sequences was tough. There were days when I would go back in my vanity van and cry as I was in immense pain."

South star Sudeep and Suniel push Pailwaan music launch to lend helping hand to Karnataka flood victims
Upala KBR (MID-DAY; August 10, 2019)

Work was on in full swing for the grand music launch of Pailwaan, the multi-lingual action drama featuring South superstar Kichcha Sudeep and Suniel Shetty. The event - that was scheduled for August 10 - was envisioned as a grand one, with a majestic set built at Chitradurga in Karnataka and an expected audience of over 1.5 lakh fans. However, on Thursday, the superstar announced that he was postponing the event in the aftermath of the Karnataka floods. The team has instead decided to offer financial and medical aid to the flood victims in the state.

Producer-director S Krishna tells mid-day, "Sudeep sir took the initiative, and after consulting everybody in the team, we decided to postpone it. A lot of money was spent [on the set], but when half the state is shattered because of heavy rains and floods, it is not the time to celebrate."

Sudeep and Shetty are now leading from the front in putting a relief team in place for those affected by the floods. "Sudeep sir and our production house are in talks with a team of doctors who will be sent to the [worst-hit areas] and take care of the patients. The expenses of the necessary treatment and medicines will be borne by the production house. For now, we are contributing by way of sending relief items such as food and clothing. We are also working with Sudeep sir’s fans clubs and sending their contributions to those in need."