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Suniel Shetty

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Suniel Shetty
Shetty in 2018
Born
Sunil V. Shetty

(1961-08-11) 11 August 1961 (age 63)
Other namesAnna[1]
Occupations
  • Actor
  • television personality
  • entrepreneur
  • film producer
Years active1992–present
OrganizationPopcorn Entertainment Pvt. Ltd.
WorksFull list
Spouse
Mana Shetty (née Qadri)
(m. 1991)
Children
RelativesKL Rahul (son-in-law)

Suniel Shetty (born Sunil V. Shetty;[2] 11 August 1961) is an Indian actor, film producer, television host, and entrepreneur, primarily known for his work in Hindi cinema, with appearances in Tamil films. Nicknamed as Anna, Shetty has appeared in over 100 films, in a career spanning over three decades.[3] Rising to prominence in the 1990s as a leading action hero with films like Balwaan (1992), Mohra (1994), Dilwale (1994), and Border (1997), Shetty later showcased his versatility in comedies such as Hera Pheri (2000), Phir Hera Pheri (2006) and antagonistic roles, notably winning a Filmfare Award for Best Villain for Dhadkan (2000). Beyond acting, he has produced films under Popcorn Motion Pictures, co-founded the online casting platform F...the Couch (FTC), and hosted reality shows.[4]

Early life

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Shetty was born on 11 August 1961 in Mulki, Mangalore, Karnataka, India, into a Tulu-speaking Bunt family.[5][6][7] His father, Veerappa Shetty, worked as a waiter in a restaurant before managing his own restaurant business in Mumbai.[8] Shetty did his schooling at the Lawrence School, Sanawar in Himachal Pradesh.[9] He later earned a degree in commerce from H.R. College of Commerce and Economics in Mumbai.[10] During his youth, Shetty developed an interest in sports, particularly cricket and martial arts, achieving a black belt in kickboxing.[11] Before entering the film industry, he briefly assisted his father in the family’s restaurant business and was involved in managing Udupi-style eateries in Mumbai.[12]

Film career

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Shetty began his hindi film career with the 1992 action film Balwaan opposite Divya Bharti, which was a moderate success.[13] He rose to prominence in 1994 with the blockbuster Mohra and the comedy Gopi Kishan, where he played a dual role. During the 1990s, he was one of the highest-paid Bollywood actors,[14] primarily starring as the male protagonist in action films such as Waqt Hamara Hai (1993), Anth (1994), Dilwale (1994), Vishwasghaat (1996), Border (1997), where he played Captain Bhairon Singh, and Bhai (1997). His role in Dhadkan earned him a Zee Cine Best Supporting Actor Award.[15]

Shetty in 2015 at Tata Sky Health and Fitness

From the early 2000s, Shetty shifted to multi-starrer films across genres. He starred opposite Isha Koppikar in Arjun Rampal’s debut film Pyaar Ishq Aur Mohabbat (2001) and ventured into comedy with the 2000 cult classic Hera Pheri, followed by Yeh Teraa Ghar Yeh Meraa Ghar (2001), Awara Paagal Deewana (2002), Phir Hera Pheri (2006), One Two Three (2008), and De Dana Dan (2009). He played negative roles in Dhadkan (2000), winning a Filmfare Award for Best Villain in 2001, Khel – No Ordinary Game (2003), Baaz: A Bird in Danger (2003), Main Hoon Na (2004), Rudraksh (2004), No Problem (2010), and A Gentleman (2017).[16] He also took on patriotic roles in Border (1997) and LOC: Kargil (2003). In 2009, he won the South Asian International Film Festival's Best Actor Award for his role in the Naxalite-based film Red Alert: The War Within (2009).[17]

Shetty during the 40th International Film Festival in 2009

Shetty debuted in Tamil cinema with 12B (2001) and returned to Tamil films after 18 years with Darbar (2020) alongside Rajinikanth.[18] In 2021, he appeared in Sanjay Gupta’s gangster drama Mumbai Saga.[19] In 2023, he portrayed ACP Vikram Chauhan in the action thriller web series Hunter Tootega Nahi Todega, set in Mumbai’s crime world.[20] His most recent film appearance was in Nadaaniyan (2025), Kesari Veer (2025), with upcoming projects including Welcome to the Jungle (2025).[21]

In 2014, Shetty changed the spelling of his name from Sunil to Suniel for numerological reasons.[22] He produced films under Popcorn Motion Pictures, including Khel – No Ordinary Game (2003), Rakht (2004), and Bhagam Bhag (2006)[23].[24] He co-founded F...the Couch (FTC) with Mukesh Chhabra, an online platform to discover new Bollywood talent.[25] Shetty hosted reality shows like Biggest Loser Jeetega (2007) on Sahara One[26] and India’s Asli Champion Hai Dam? on &TV.[27] He participated in the Celebrity Cricket League as captain of the Mumbai Heroes[28] and co-founded the Ferit Cricket Bash in 2018. In 2014 and 2016, he was a special guest at the Hiru Golden Film Awards in Sri Lanka. In 2005, on the eve of the former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi's 61st birth anniversary, the Mumbai Pradesh Youth Congress honoured Shetty with the Rajiv Gandhi National Quality Award.[29]

Other work

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In 2019, Shetty invested in the Pune-based online health and fitness start up Squats.[30]

Television

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Shetty has appeared as a host for India's leading fitness reality shows Biggest Loser Jeetega on Sahara One.[31] and India's Asli Champion Hai dam? on &TV.

Restaurant

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The actor owns Mischief Dining Bar and Club H2O, in Mumbai. Both the places are running successfully.[32][33] He co-owns the water adventure park attached to cafe H2O. He closed down Mischief Bar in 2010, and instead opened a new restaurant called Little Italy. The restaurant was first owned by his father when it was an Udupi restaurant, Suniel then changed the restaurant into a bar, and then back into a restaurant with the different name with his father's blessings.[34]

Celebrity Cricket League

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Suniel Shetty is captain of the Mumbai Heroes cricket team in the Celebrity Cricket League.[35] He is also the co-founder of Ferit Cricket Bash that was launched in December 2018.

Hiru Golden Film Awards

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Suniel Shetty was participant in the Hiru Golden Film Awards 2014 and 2016 in Sri Lanka as a special guest.[36]

R House

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He started his luxury furniture and home lifestyle store in Mumbai, Worli in 2013 with his wife Mana.[37]

Brand ambassador

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Shetty is the brand ambassador of HYPE Luxury, a luxury mobility platform that offers luxury cars, yachts, and private jets for rent.[38][39]

Philanthropy

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Suniel Shetty is involved in a number of Philantropic initiatives. He is an advisor for Vipla Foundation, an NGO that works towards empowering underprivileged communities through education, skill development, and social welfare initiatives to create sustainable and inclusive growth.[40][41]

In 2008, he contributed in the rescue of 128 Nepalese women from sex trafficking in Mumbai, and arranged for their return to Nepal. He has credited Mumbai police officials for the successful rescue.[42][41]

Personal life

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Shetty with his wife at the premiere of Bol Bachchan in 2011

Since 1991 he is married to Mana Shetty (née Monisha Kadri), a businesswoman, designer and social activist born to a Gujarati Muslim architect father and a Punjabi Hindu social activist mother.[43] They have two children, a daughter Athiya Shetty[44] and a son Ahan Shetty.[45]

Both Athiya and Ahan have made their acting debuts respectively, Athiya in the film Hero (2015) and Ahan in Sajid Nadiadwala's film Tadap (2021), the Hindi remake of Telugu film RX 100.[46] Mana runs an NGO for under-privileged kids.[47] Athiya married Indian cricketer KL Rahul on 23 January 2023.[48]

Shetty has a black belt in kickboxing.[49] He owns clothing boutiques as well as restaurants specialising in Udupi cuisine.[50]

Filmography

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Accolades

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Winner
Nominated

References

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  1. ^ "Suniel Shetty tells Shehnaaz Gill how he became known as Anna, says Amitabh Bachchan and Sanjay Dutt started it". The Indian Express. 26 March 2023. Retrieved 5 March 2025.
  2. ^ "Sunil Shetty's father Virappa Shetty passes away". The Times of India. Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd. Retrieved 1 March 2017.
  3. ^ "From action to acting". The Hindu. 21 September 2000. Archived from the original on 12 August 2014.
  4. ^ "Sunil Shetty: Into 'Popcorn' entertainment!". The Times of India. 13 February 2001. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
  5. ^ Pereira, Violet (29 March 2019). "Mangalore: A tete-a-tete with Suniel Shetty". Mangalorean. Archived from the original on 16 November 2011. Retrieved 16 December 2011.
  6. ^ "World Bunts meet begins Friday". The Times of India. 20 December 2002. Archived from the original on 21 May 2013. Retrieved 16 December 2011.
  7. ^ Gupta, Priya (7 May 2014). "Mumbai girls were safe when Balasaheb was alive: Suniel Shetty". The Times of India. Retrieved 19 May 2022.
  8. ^ "Suniel Shetty now owns all three buildings where his dad worked as a waiter and restaurant manager: 'He would sleep in a rice sack'". The Indian Express. 18 June 2024. Retrieved 12 June 2025.
  9. ^ "Bollywood stars fund five girls' education in Kangra". Tribune India. 11 April 2015. (...) two old students of The Lawrence School, Sanawar, Sunil Shetty and Rahul Roy, handed over a cheque for Rs 1.5 lakh to their Lawrence School teacher Sukhvinder Singh (...)
  10. ^ "'Pursuing Master's Degree Wasn't Common..': Suniel Shetty On Importance Of Education". Free Press Journal. Retrieved 12 June 2025.
  11. ^ IANS (11 February 2023). "Suniel Shetty's Martial Arts Skills Helped Him In Bollywood; Actor Now Wants To Give Back In A". news.abplive.com. Retrieved 12 June 2025.
  12. ^ Bhandari, Kabir Singh (12 March 2023). "Suniel Shetty: The Tough Guy In Business". Entrepreneur. Retrieved 12 June 2025. Coming from a business family, 61-year-old Shetty started to work from the age of 16 at his father's restaurant. Hailing from the Bunt community, they ran a few udupi restaurants.
  13. ^ "Suniel Shetty recalls being called 'bad actor' after debut film Balwaan's success: 'Critic told me to sell idli-vada'". Hindustan Times. 11 May 2025. Retrieved 12 June 2025.
  14. ^ Kanetkar, Riddhima. "Meet actor who gave over 40 flop films, still lives luxurious life, is neighbours with Mukesh Ambani, net worth is." DNA India. Retrieved 12 June 2025. In a career spanning over 30 years, Suniel Shetty has acted in over 100 films and was one of the highest-paid actors in the 90s.
  15. ^ "Lux Zee Cine Awards 2001 - 4th Zee Cine Awards & Winners". www.awardsandshows.com. Retrieved 12 June 2025.
  16. ^ "Birthday Special: Best Suniel Shetty Movies". filmfare.com. 11 August 2020. Retrieved 28 September 2020.
  17. ^ "Suniel wins award for Red Alert". The Times of India. 10 November 2009. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 12 June 2025.
  18. ^ Subramanian, Anupama (26 May 2019). "Suniel Shetty in Tamil film after 18 years". Deccan Chronicle. Retrieved 13 March 2024.
  19. ^ "Exclusive: John Abraham and Emraan Hashmi starrer Mumbai Saga set for theatrical release on March 19, 2021". Bollywood Hungama. 21 February 2021. Retrieved 23 February 2021.
  20. ^ Rajpal, Roktim (22 March 2023). "Hunter Tootega Nahi Todega Review: Suniel Shetty shines in this mediocre action series". India Today. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
  21. ^ "Exclusive: Suniel Shetty to play don in Welcome to the Jungle". Hindustan Times. 29 May 2024. Archived from the original on 26 June 2024. Retrieved 12 June 2025.
  22. ^ "Bollywood actors who changed their names according to numerology". The Times of India. 2 September 2018. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 12 June 2025.
  23. ^ "Are Suniel Shetty and Priyadarshan making a sequel to Bhagam Bhag?". India Today. 19 May 2018. Retrieved 12 June 2025.
  24. ^ "Popcorn Motion Pictures Pvt. Ltd. - Box Office India". boxofficeindia.com. Retrieved 13 March 2024.
  25. ^ "Suniel Shetty and Mukesh Chhabra launch 'F…The Couch' casting agency". Bollywood Hungama. 19 October 2016. Retrieved 13 March 2024.
  26. ^ "Sahara One launches Biggest Loser Jeetega". Hindustan Times. 24 March 2007. Archived from the original on 25 December 2024. Retrieved 12 June 2025.
  27. ^ "India's Asli Champion host Suniel Shetty : I want to play my age on screen". The Indian Express. 7 May 2017. Retrieved 12 June 2025.
  28. ^ "Suniel Shetty,Armaan Kohli team up for CCL". The Indian Express. 5 January 2014. Retrieved 12 June 2025.
  29. ^ "KL Rahul, Suniel Shetty Buy Land in Thane for ₹9.85 Cr in Prime Location Deal". Deccan Herald. Retrieved 12 June 2025. Suniel Shetty, a veteran Bollywood actor and entrepreneur, has appeared in over 100 films across action, drama, and comedy genres. He was honoured with the prestigious Rajiv Gandhi Award for his contribution to Indian cinema
  30. ^ Laghate, Gaurav (10 May 2019). "Suniel Shetty picks up minority stake in online fitness startup Squats". The Economic Times. Retrieved 26 September 2019.
  31. ^ "The Telegraph – Calcutta (Kolkata) – Entertainment – Host with the most". The Telegraph. Kolkota. Archived from the original on 26 October 2008.
  32. ^ "Sunil Shetty – Celebrity restaurant Chain". news18.com. 2 November 2011.
  33. ^ "Sunil Shetty – Celebrity restaurant connect". The Times of India. 11 September 2015.
  34. ^ "In place of Sunil's Mischief Dining Bar, there is now Little Italy". Mid-Day. 24 February 2010.
  35. ^ "Sunil Shetty – Celebrity Cricket League 2011 Photo #335". bollywoodmantra.com.
  36. ^ "Hiru Golden Film Awards". hirugoldenfilmawards.lk.
  37. ^ "Involve your family in whatever you do: Suniel Shetty". Times of India. 12 January 2013.
  38. ^ "Actor Suniel Shetty is the face of mobility platform Hype Luxury". Moneycontrol. 14 December 2023. Retrieved 29 December 2023.
  39. ^ "Suniel Shetty to be face of Hype Luxury". Economic Times. 13 December 2023. Retrieved 29 December 2023.
  40. ^ "Vipla - About us". Vipla.
  41. ^ a b Shaikh, Samina (10 July 2024). "Suniel Shetty: Underworld Was Behind Us During Our Human-Trafficking Rescue Operation". Times Now. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  42. ^ "When Suniel Shetty saved 128 women from sex trafficking and arranged for their return to Nepal: 'We didn't think about price of flight tickets'". Indian Express. 16 August 2023. Retrieved 22 September 2024.
  43. ^ "Meet Suniel Shetty's wife Mana Shetty, an entrepreneur and social activist". DNA India. 11 May 2021. Archived from the original on 30 January 2025. Retrieved 26 June 2023. Monisha Kadri aka Mana hailed from a part-Punjabi and part-Muslim family (...) Mana Shetty's dad was a Gujarati Muslim, Iftikhar M Kadri who was an architect by profession and her Hindu mother Vipula Kadri was a social activist.
  44. ^ KBR, Upala (8 November 2010). "Sunil Shetty had a swell Diwali". Mid-Day. Retrieved 8 March 2014.
  45. ^ KBR, Upala (3 January 2011). "Sunil Shetty, son Ahaan hit Bangkok". Mid-Day. Retrieved 8 March 2014.
  46. ^ "Ahan Shetty goes to London for special training for his debut film". Hindustan Times. 29 November 2016. Retrieved 28 June 2017.
  47. ^ "I'm more than just a celeb wife: Mana Shetty". mid-day.com. Archived from the original on 16 September 2010.
  48. ^ Arya, Prachi; Kanabar, NiralI (23 November 2022). "Athiya Shetty and KL Rahul to tie the knot in January 2023? Here's all about their wedding". India Today. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
  49. ^ "Sunil Shetty returns to action". Hindustan Times. Indo-Asian News Service. 4 January 2011. Archived from the original on 21 January 2011. Retrieved 27 January 2011. A Black Belt in kick boxing, he kept the decade packed with more of muscle power in outings like Waqt Hamara Hai, Bhai, Border, Mohra, Suraksha, Shastra, Rakshak, Krishna, Aakrosh and Dus, to name a few.
  50. ^ "Coming back soon, says Suniel Shetty". NDTV. 3 January 2011. Archived from the original on 21 January 2014. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
  51. ^ a b c d "Sunil Shetty: Awards & Nominations". Bollywood Hungama. Archived from the original on 30 April 2008. Retrieved 11 February 2011.
  52. ^ "Sunil Shetty Wins Best Supporting Actor Award". zeecineawards.com.
  53. ^ "The Winners". Stardust.co.in. Archived from the original on 17 August 2012. Retrieved 25 February 2011.
  54. ^ "Dhadkan". Omnilexica.
  55. ^ "Main Hoon Na Awards, Nominations, Filmfare Awards, Screen Awards, Zee Cine Awards, IIFA Awards". movietalkies.
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