Having spent over three decades in the film industry, Suniel Shetty has seamlessly transitioned through various phases of Bollywood — from the quintessential action hero of the ’90s to delivering powerful performances in negative roles, and now making a mark in the OTT space.
As he promotes Season 2 of his action-packed web series Hunter, the veteran actor reflects on the evolving landscape of the Hindi film industry and how the journey has changed, especially for newcomers trying to find their ground today.
Here’s what he said!
Suniel Shetty says today’s star kids have it tougher
Instagram/sunielshetty
Suniel Shetty, who entered the industry without any film background, shared that he faced struggles early on because he didn’t look like a “typical hero.”
“People told me I didn’t look like a hero," he said. Still, he kept going and became one of the top action stars of his time.
However, when asked about the current crop of newcomers, Shetty had an interesting take.
“The kids have to work harder to prove themselves," he explained. “Earlier, they assumed they’d automatically be a part of the film world. Today, they know they have to educate themselves, be prepared — whether it’s acting, body language, or everything else. You can’t skip the fundamentals."
He pointed out that while competition is undoubtedly fierce, it’s the audience's scrutiny that’s become relentless. “Everyone is a critic today," Shetty said.
“But it’s not constructive criticism — it’s about trashing films and performances. That kind of judgment takes a toll,” he said.
Suniel Shetty opens up on modern marriages
Viral Bhayani
In a conversation with Pinkvilla, Suniel Shetty said, “Aaj kal bachon mein patience hai hi nahi. Shaadi kuch time ke baad ek samjhauta hota hai, where you have to understand each other, live for each other. [Kids these days have no patience. Marriage, after a while, becomes a compromise, where you have to understand each other and live for one another.]
He added, “Phir ek bacha aata hai, aur patni ko yeh jaan na zaruri hai ki husband career banayega toh bache ko main dekh rahi hoon. Husband, of course, saath mein dekhega. Par aaj kal sab cheezon mein pressure bohot ho gaya hai. [Then a child comes into the picture, and the wife needs to understand that if the husband is building his career, she will need to take care of the child. Of course, the husband will also be involved. But these days, there is just too much pressure in everything."
Meanwhile, both of Suniel Shetty's children - Athiya and Ahan - made their debut in films over the last few years. Athiya started her acting career with Hero in 2015, and Ahan debuted with Tadap in 2021, and currently has Border 2 and Sanki lined up for release next year.
Social and lead image Credits: Instagram/sunielshetty
