Suniel Shetty | |
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.jpg) Shetty in 2018 | |
| Born | Sunil V. Shetty (1961-08-11)11 August 1961 (age 64) Mulki,Mysore State, India |
| Other names | Anna[1] |
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 1992–present |
| Organization | Popcorn Entertainment Pvt. Ltd. |
| Works | Full list |
| Spouse | |
| Children |
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| Relatives | KL Rahul (son-in-law) |
Suniel Shetty (bornSunil V. Shetty;[2] 11 August 1961) is anIndian actor, film producer, television host, and entrepreneur, primarily known for his work inHindi cinema. Nicknamed as Anna,[3] Shetty has appeared inover 100 films, in a career spanning over three decades.[4] Rising to prominence in the 1990s as a leading action hero with films likeBalwaan (1992),Mohra (1994),Dilwale (1994), andBorder (1997), Shetty later showcased his versatility in comedies such asHera Pheri (2000),Phir Hera Pheri (2006) and antagonistic roles, notably winning aFilmfare Award for Best Villain forDhadkan (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.[5]
Shetty was born on 11 August 1961 inMulki,Mangalore,Karnataka, India, into aTulu-speakingBunt family.[6][7][8] His father, Veerappa Shetty, worked as a waiter in a restaurant before managing his own restaurant business in Mumbai.[9] Shetty did his schooling at theLawrence School, Sanawar inHimachal Pradesh.[10] He later earned a degree in commerce fromH.R. College of Commerce and Economics in Mumbai.[11] During his youth, Shetty developed an interest in sports, particularly cricket and martial arts, achieving a black belt in kickboxing.[12] Before entering the film industry, he briefly assisted his father in the family’s restaurant business and was involved in managingUdupi-style eateries in Mumbai.[13]
Shetty began his hindi film career with the 1992 action filmBalwaan oppositeDivya Bharti, which was a moderate success.[14] He rose to prominence in 1994 with the blockbusterMohra[15] and the comedyGopi Kishan, where he played a dual role. During the 1990s, he was one of the highest-paid Bollywood actors,[16] primarily starring as the male protagonist in action films such asWaqt Hamara Hai (1993),Anth (1994),Dilwale (1994),Vishwasghaat (1996),Border (1997), where he played CaptainBhairon Singh, andBhai (1997). His role inDhadkan earned him aZee Cine Best Supporting Actor Award.[17]
From the early 2000s, Shetty shifted to multi-starrer films across genres. He starred oppositeIsha Koppikar inArjun Rampal’s debut filmPyaar Ishq Aur Mohabbat (2001) and ventured into comedy with the 2000 cult classicHera Pheri, followed byYeh Teraa Ghar Yeh Meraa Ghar (2001),Awara Paagal Deewana (2002),Phir Hera Pheri (2006),One Two Three (2008), andDe Dana Dan (2009). He played negative roles inDhadkan (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), andA Gentleman (2017).[18] He also took on patriotic roles inBorder (1997) andLOC: Kargil (2003). In 2009, he won the South Asian International Film Festival's Best Actor Award for his role in the Naxalite-based filmRed Alert: The War Within (2009).[19]
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Shetty debuted in Tamil cinema with12B (2001)[20] and returned to Tamil films after 18 years withDarbar (2020) alongsideRajinikanth.[21] In 2021, he appeared inSanjay Gupta’s gangster dramaMumbai Saga.[22] In 2023, he portrayed ACP Vikram Chauhan in the action thriller web seriesHunter Tootega Nahi Todega, set in Mumbai’s crime world.[23] His most recent film appearance was inNadaaniyan (2025),Kesari Veer (2025), with upcoming projects includingWelcome to the Jungle (2025).[24]
In 2014, Shetty changed the spelling of his name from Sunil to Suniel for numerological reasons.[25] He produced films under Popcorn Motion Pictures, includingKhel – No Ordinary Game (2003),Rakht (2004), andBhagam Bhag (2006).[26][27] He co-founded F...the Couch (FTC) withMukesh Chhabra, an online platform to discover new Bollywood talent.[28] Shetty hosted reality shows likeBiggest Loser Jeetega (2007) onSahara One[29] andIndia’s Asli Champion Hai Dam? on&TV.[30] He participated in theCelebrity Cricket League as captain of theMumbai Heroes[31] and co-founded the Ferit Cricket Bash in 2018. In 2014 and 2016, he was a special guest at theHiru Golden Film Awards in Sri Lanka. In 2005, on the eve of the formerPrime MinisterRajiv Gandhi's 61st birth anniversary, the Mumbai PradeshYouth Congress honoured Shetty with theRajiv Gandhi National Quality Award.[32]
In 2019, Shetty invested in the Pune-based online health and fitness start up Squats.[33]
Shetty has appeared as a host for India's leading fitness reality showsBiggest Loser Jeetega onSahara One.[34] andIndia's Asli Champion Hai dam? on&TV.
The actor owns Mischief Dining Bar and Club H2O, in Mumbai.[35] Both the places are running successfully.[36][37] 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.[38]
Suniel Shetty is captain of the Mumbai Heroes cricket team in the Celebrity Cricket League.[39] He is also the co-founder of Ferit Cricket Bash that was launched in December 2018.[40]
Suniel Shetty was participant in the Hiru Golden Film Awards 2014 and 2016 inSri Lanka as a special guest.[41]
He started his luxury furniture and home lifestyle store in Mumbai, Worli in 2013 with his wife Mana.[42]
Shetty is the brand ambassador ofHYPE Luxury, a luxury mobility platform that offers luxury cars, yachts, and private jets for rent.[43][44]
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.[45][46]
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.[47][46]
Since 1991 he is married to Mana Shetty (née Monisha Kadri), a businesswoman, designer and social activist born to aGujarati Muslim architect father and aPunjabi Hindu social activist mother.[48] They have two children, a daughterAthiya Shetty[49] and a sonAhan Shetty.[50]
Both Athiya and Ahan have made their acting debuts respectively, Athiya in the filmHero (2015) and Ahan inSajid Nadiadwala's filmTadap (2021), theHindi remake ofTelugu filmRX 100.[51] Mana runs anNGO for under-privileged kids.[52] Athiya married Indian cricketerKL Rahul on 23 January 2023.[53]
Shetty has a black belt inkickboxing.[54] He owns clothingboutiques as well as restaurants specialising inUdupi cuisine.[55]
(...) 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 (...)
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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