Suniel Shetty

Suniel Shetty (born Sunil V. Shetty; 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. 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.

Early life

Shetty was born on 11 August 1961 in Mulki, Mangalore, Karnataka, India, into a Tulu-speaking Bunt family. His father, Veerappa Shetty, worked as a waiter in a restaurant before managing his own restaurant business in Mumbai. Shetty did his schooling at the Lawrence School, Sanawar in Himachal Pradesh. He later earned a degree in commerce from H.R. College of Commerce and Economics in Mumbai. During his youth, Shetty developed an interest in sports, particularly cricket and martial arts, achieving a black belt in kickboxing. 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.

Film career

Shetty began his hindi film career with the 1992 action film Balwaan opposite Divya Bharti, which was a moderate success. 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, 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.

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). 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).

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

In 2014, Shetty changed the spelling of his name from Sunil to Suniel for numerological reasons. He produced films under Popcorn Motion Pictures, including Khel – No Ordinary Game (2003), Rakht (2004), and Bhagam Bhag (2006). He co-founded F...the Couch (FTC) with Mukesh Chhabra, an online platform to discover new Bollywood talent. Shetty hosted reality shows like Biggest Loser Jeetega (2007) on Sahara One and India’s Asli Champion Hai Dam? on &TV. He participated in the Celebrity Cricket League as captain of the Mumbai Heroes 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.

Other work

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

Television

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

Restaurant

The actor owns Mischief Dining Bar and Club H2O, in Mumbai. Both the places are running successfully. 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.

Celebrity Cricket League

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

Hiru Golden Film Awards

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

R House

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

Brand ambassador

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

Philanthropy

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.

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.

Personal life

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

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. Mana runs an NGO for under-privileged kids. Athiya married Indian cricketer KL Rahul on 23 January 2023.

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

Filmography

Accolades

;Winner

* 2001: Filmfare Award for Best Villain for '' Dhadkan''
* 2001: Zee Cine Award for Best Supporting Actor for ''Dhadkan''
* 2005: GIFA Award for Best Villain for '' Main Hoon Na''
* 2011: Stardust Award for Best Actor (Critics) for '' Red Alert: The War Within''

;Nominated

* 1995: Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor for '' Dilwale''
* 1998: Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor for ''Border''
* 1998: Screen Award for Best Supporting Actor for ''Border''
* 2001: Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor for ''Refugee''
* 2001: IIFA Award for Best Supporting Actor for ''Refugee''
* 2001: IIFA Award for Best Villain for ''Dhadkan''
* 2004: IIFA Award for Best Supporting Actor for '' Qayamat: City Under Threat''
* 2005: Filmfare Award for Best Villain for '' Main Hoon Na''
* 2005: IIFA Award for Best Villain for ''Main Hoon Na''
* 2021: SIIMA Award for Best Actor in a Negative Role – Tamil for '' Darbar''

References

External links

*
*

{{DEFAULTSORT:Shetty, Suniel
1961 births
Indian male film actors
Living people
Film producers from Karnataka
People from Dakshina Kannada district
Indian television presenters
Indian male comedians
Male actors in Hindi cinema
Mangaloreans
Tulu male actors
Male actors from Karnataka
Male actors in Kannada television
Indian male television actors
20th-century Indian male actors
21st-century Indian male actors
Filmfare Awards winners
Zee Cine Awards winners
Indian Hindus
Lawrence School, Sanawar alumni