Suniel Shetty is a versatile actor who has made a significant contribution to the Indian film industry. The Bollywood actor he has acted in a wide range of films across various languages, including Hindi, Tamil, and Malayalam.
In this blog post, we will delve into the fascinating world of Suniel Shetty and explore his early life, personal life, rise to stardom, career highlights, awards, and achievements. We will also take a look at his top 5 best films, controversies, and interesting facts.
Early Life and Upbringing
Suniel Shetty was born on August 11, 1961, in Mulki, Mangalore. He was born into a Tulu-speaking Bunt family. His father, Veerappa Shetty, was a hotelier, and his mother, Kumud Shetty, was a housewife.
Suniel Shetty completed his schooling at St. Stanislaus High School in Bandra, Mumbai. He then went on to pursue his Bachelor’s degree in Commerce from H.R. College of Commerce and Economics in Mumbai.
Personal Life – Age, Zodiac Sign
| Personal Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Sunil Veerappa Shetty |
| Nickname | Anna |
| Alternative Names(s) (also known as) | Suniel V. Shetty |
| Date of Birth | 11 August 1961 |
| Age (as of 2023) | 62 Years |
| Religion | Hinduism |
| Zodiac Sign | Leo |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Birthplace | Mulki, Mangalore, Karnataka, India |
| Hometown | Mulki, Mangalore, Karnataka, India |
| Current Address | 18-B, Prithvi Apts., Altamount Road, Mumbai – 400 026 |
| Education Qualification | Degree in Hotel Management |
| Hobbies and Interests | Playing Cricket, Watching Movies, Shopping, Travelling, Working Out |
| Languages Known | Hindi, English, Tulu, Kannada |
| Social Media Profiles link (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter) | Facebook, Instagram, Twitter |
| Wikipedia Profile link | Suniel Shetty |
| IMDb Profile link | Suniel Shetty |
| Website link | N/A |
Physical Appearance – Height, Weight, Body Measurements
| Physical Stats | Information |
|---|---|
| Body Type | Athletic |
| Body Measurements (Chest – Waist – Hips) | 42-34-16 inches |
| Height in feet, inches, cm | 5’ 10″, 178 cm |
| Weight in kg, lbs | 80 kg, 176 lbs |
| Chest | 42 inches |
| Waist | 34 inches |
| Biceps | 16 inches |
| Eye Colour | Dark Brown |
| Hair Colour | Black |
| Hairstyle | Short and Spiky |
| Distinctive Features | Muscular Physique, Beard |
| Tattoos | None |
Family and Relationships – Girlfriend/Wife, Affairs
Suniel Shetty is married to Mana Shetty, and the couple has two children, Athiya Shetty and Ahan Shetty. Athiya Shetty is also an actress who made her Bollywood debut in 2015 with the film “Hero.”
Ahan Shetty is set to make his Bollywood debut in 2022 with the film “Tadap.”
| Relationships Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Marital Status | Married |
| Spouse – Wife | Mana Shetty (Creative Director) |
| Father | Late Veerapa Shetty |
| Mother | Name Not Known |
| Children | Athiya Shetty (Daughter, Actress), Ahan Shetty (Son, Actor) |
| Siblings | Sujata Shetty (Sister, Elder) |
| Affairs – Girlfriend(s) | Mana Shetty |
| Significant Relationships | Mana Shetty |
Rise to Stardom
Suniel Shetty made his debut in Hindi films in 1992 at the age of 31 with “Balwaan,” opposite Divya Bharti. The film helped him to retain his position in Bollywood as an action hero.
He went on to play the protagonist in various successful movies such as “Waqt Hamara Hai” (1993), “Pehchaan” (1993), “Dilwale” (1994), “Anth” (1994), “Mohra” (1994), “Gopi Kishan” (1994), “Hum Hain Bemisaal” (1994), “Surakshaa” (1995), “Raghuveer” (1995), “Takkar” (1995), “Krishna” (1996), “Sapoot” (1996), “Shastra” (1996), “Rakshak” (1996), “Border” (1997), “Judge Mujrim” (1997), “Bhai” (1997), “Qahar” (1997), “Vinashak” (1998), and “Hu Tu Tu” (1999).
He was one of the highest-paid Bollywood actors in the 1990s. From early 2000, he mainly appeared in multi-starrers in across genres.
He also starred opposite Isha Koppikar in Arjun Rampal’s debut movie “Pyaar Ishq Aur Mohabbat” (2001). Some of his most memorable films include “Hera Pheri” (2000), “Dhadkan” (2000), “Main Hoon Na” (2004), “Phir Hera Pheri” (2006), and “Red Alert: The War Within” (2010).
Suniel Shetty – Debut Film – Balwaan (1992)
Suniel Shetty – Successful – Dhadkan (2000)
Career, Awards, and Achievements
Suniel Shetty has won several awards for his contribution to the Indian film industry. He won the Filmfare Award for Best Villain for his role in “Dhadkan” (2000).
He was also nominated for the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in “Dilwale” (1994). He has been involved in various charitable initiatives, including supporting education for underprivileged children and providing aid during natural disasters.
He is the captain of the Mumbai Heroes cricket team in Celebrity Cricket League and owns the restaurants Mischief Dining Bar and Club H2O, in Mumbai.
| Career Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Profession(s) | Actor, Producer, Entrepreneur, Television Personality |
| Debut Film | Balwaan (1992) |
| Notable Roles | Devraj in Dhadkan (2000), Raghavan Datta in Main Hoon Na (2004), Shyam in Hera Pheri (2000) and Phir Hera Pheri (2006), Narsimha in Red Alert: The War Within (2010) |
| Recent Films – New Movies | Mumbai Saga (2021), Mosagallu (2021), Aa Bhi Ja O Piya (2021) |
| Upcoming Films | Marakkar: Arabikadalinte Simham (2021), Tadap (2021), Hera Pheri 3 (2024), Soorarai Pottery (2024), Race 4 (2024), Soorya (2024), Welcome to the Jungle (2024) |
| Popular Television Series | Biggest Loser Jeetega (2007), India’s Asli Champion (2017) |
| Awards and Achievements | Filmfare Best Villain Award for Dhadkan (2001), Rajiv Gandhi Award (2005), Stardust SearchLight Award for Best Actor for Red Alert: The War Within (2011), Bharat Ratna Dr Ambedkar Award (2020) |
| Endorsements/Brand Collaborations | Mischief, Club H2O, FTC, Mission Fit India, BodyFirst, Beardo, Fittr, Ferit Cricket Bash |
| Philanthropy/Charity Work | Save the Children India, Being Human Foundation, Nargis Dutt Foundation, Dabbawalas of Mumbai |
| Professional Associations | Celebrity Cricket League, Popcorn Entertainment Pvt. Ltd. |
| Training and Education | H.R. College of Commerce and Economics, Mumbai |
| Production Company | Popcorn Entertainment Pvt. Ltd. |
| Box Office Success – Hit Movies | Mohra (1994), Border (1997), Hera Pheri (2000), Dhadkan (2000), Main Hoon Na (2004), De Dana Dan (2009), Mumbai Saga (2021) |
| Critical Acclaim Movies | Hu Tu Tu (1999), Kaante (2002), Red Alert: The War Within (2010), Pailwaan (2019) |
Assets and Finances – Net Worth
| Financial Profile | Information |
|---|---|
| Net Worth in Rs. and Dollars | Rs. 100 Crore, $14 Million |
| Per Movie Charges in Rs. and Dollars | Rs. 2-3 Crore, $300,000-$400,000 |
| Per Endorsement Charges in Rs. and Dollars | Rs. 50-60 Lakh, $70,000-$80,000 |
| Sponsorship Deals | Mischief, Club H2O, FTC, Mission Fit India, BodyFirst, Beardo, Fittr, Ferit Cricket Bash |
| Business Ventures | Restaurant Business, Boutique, Pub, Club, Online Casting Company, Fitness App, Cricket League, Wellness Brand |
| Investments | Real Estate, Stocks, Mutual Funds |
| Real Estate Holdings | Bungalow in Khandala, Apartment in Altamount Road, Mumbai, Farmhouse in Khandala |
| Luxury Items/Properties Owned | Rolex Watch, Harley Davidson Bike, Diamond Ring |
| Cars Collection | Hummer H3, Mercedes-Benz S-Class, Audi A8 L, BMW 7 Series |
Favorite Things, Likes and Dislikes
| Favorite Things | Information |
|---|---|
| Favorite Actor | Amitabh Bachchan, Bruce Willis |
| Favorite Actress | Nargis, Sharmila Tagore, Kajol, Madhuri Dixit, Goldie Hawn |
| Favorite Film | Sharaabi, Hera Pheri |
| Favorite Music Bands | Bryan Adams |
| Favorite Sport | Cricket |
| Favorite Books | Sunny Days by Sunil Gavaskar |
| Favorite Color | Blue, White, Black |
| Favorite Food | Tile Wali Kulfi, Fish Curry, Thai Cuisine |
| Things s/he like | Fitness, Family, Friends, Adventure |
| Things s/he dislike | Negativity, Dishonesty, Smoking |
Top 5 Best Films – Suniel Shetty
| Film Name | Year of Release | Character Played |
|---|---|---|
| Dhadkan | 2000 | Dev Chopra |
| Hera Pheri | 2000 | Shyam / Ghanshyam Tripathi |
| Mohra | 1994 | Vishal Agnihotri |
| Gopi Kishan | 1994 | Gopinath Chaudhary / Kishannath Chaudhary |
| Border | 1997 | Bhairav Singh Rathod |
Controversies – Suniel Shetty
- Post the 9/11 attacks in the USA, Suniel Shetty faced trouble at the Los Angeles airport due to his beard that he had grown for his role in the movie “Kaante”.
- Suniel Shetty and casting director Mukesh Chhabra had a spat when they used to work together.
- Suniel Shetty’s statement on the rising price of tomatoes was twisted and sensationalized on social media.
- Amid a controversy revolving around actors endorsing products of pan masala brands, a Twitter user wrongly tagged Suniel Shetty in a picture featuring Ajay Devgn, Akshay Kumar, and Shah Rukh Khan, endorsing a tobacco brand and called him a ‘gutka king’.
Interesting Facts – Suniel Shetty
- Suniel Shetty holds a black belt in Kickboxing.
- He is the captain of the Mumbai Heroes cricket team in Celebrity Cricket League.
- Suniel Shetty owns the restaurants Mischief Dining Bar and Club H2O, in Mumbai.
- He has also featured as a host for India’s leading fitness reality shows “Biggest Loser Jeetega” and “India’s Asli Champion Hai Dam?”.
- Suniel Shetty changed the spelling of his name from Sunil to Suniel for numerological reasons.
- He is fondly known as ‘Anna’.
Suniel Shetty’s journey from a debutant to one of the most respected actors in Bollywood is truly inspiring. His dedication to his craft, his versatility, and his ability to captivate audiences make him a true icon of Indian cinema.
His story is a testament to the fact that with hard work, determination, and passion, one can achieve great heights in their chosen field.
