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Bollywood actor Suniel Shetty recently shared that he does not see himself as a “relevant” celebrity when it comes to “cinema or box office.” While Sunil admitted his limitations with regard to delivering blockbusters, he said that it was his his obsession with fitness that had kept him in the “relevant” in the movie business, despite him taking a long sabbatical. He also revealed that it was because of his obsession with his fitness that he refused Rs 40 crore for a tobacco campaign.
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In a recent interaction with Peeping Moon, Suniel admitted that the death of his father, Veerappa Shetty, in 2017 left him disheartened, after which he took a long break from the film industry. He said, “Before passing away in 2017, dad was unwell from 2014, and I was looking after him. I was not in a state of mind. I had completely quit. And then he passed away. However, the same morning I got an offer to do a health show.”
Suniel admitted that since he had avoided work for nearly half a decade, getting an offer on the same day as his father’s death felt like a sign from the universe. “I saw it as a calling, and then I went back to acting and took up a few South films. When you take a gap of 6-7 years, you think that you don’t know your craft, that things have changed, and that nobody knows you, everyone is new, so I was not comfortable.”
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However, having strong financial backing, Suniel said he quickly returned to his old confident self. He explained, “Post-pandemic, I started looking at myself differently. I built myself, I started training, reading and doing so many other things. Then I got so confident about myself that I thought I don’t need validation from anyone. God has been kind, Lakshmiji (Goddess of wealth) has been kind every time I need her. She is there with me, without me asking. That gives you a different kind of confidence. That confidence changed everything in me.”
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Suniel further admitted that it was the media and his fans who kept him relevant during the years when he wasn’t active in films. “Even though I wasn’t in the limelight or gave blockbusters after blockbusters, the media kept me alive. They showed the love towards me. Things started changing, people wanted to see organic and real instead of those who seek validation online.”
When asked about actors promoting tobacco brands, with Ajay Devgn and Sanjay Dutt even having their own single malt brands, Suniel said that he made a conscious decision to never endorse such products. He said that he even refused Rs 40 crore for a tobacco campaign. “I have been offered Rs 40 crore for a tobacco ad. I looked at him and said, ‘Do you think I will fall for the money? I won’t.’ I probably needed that money, but no, I won’t do it. It is something that I don’t believe in. I won’t do anything that will leave a blemish on Ahan and Athiya. Now nobody even dares to come to me with such offers,” he said.
He also added, “I am not relevant when it comes to cinema or box office, but still 17–18 year olds look up to me. I get so much love and respect, it is unreal. So I am blessed, so will I do it for a few crores? No, I won’t.”
