Suniel Shetty reminisces about fearless confrontations with underworld figures; says, “I used to abuse back”

Suniel Shetty fearlessly confronted underworld threats, even defying police.

May 28, 2023 - 1:57 PM IST

Bollywood’s actor Suniel Shetty is known for his powerful on-screen persona, and it appears that he carries the same level of gravitas in his real life. The actor reminisces about the fearless manner in which he responded to calls from the underworld, even earning the label of “crazy” from the police. In a recent interview, Shetty candidly discussed his turbulent past, offering his fans a glimpse into that world.

Suniel Shetty reminisces about fearless confrontations with underworld figures; says, “I used to abuse back”

Suniel Shetty reflected on the menacing phone calls he received from the criminal underworld and his resolute approach in dealing with them during his appearance on The BarberShop with Shantanu podcast. He said, “We were at a time when the underworld was rambling here (in Mumbai). You know, I used to get calls saying, ‘I will do this, I will do that.’ I used to abuse back. I had cops telling me, ‘Listen, you’re crazy. You don’t understand, they’ll get upset and they could do anything.’ I said, ‘What? I’m not wrong; protect me. What have I done?’ So that’s the background I came from.”

He further added, “I have never told Athiya and Ahaan what I have done. I have done some crazy stuff. Got injured, got out of it and self-healed. And that’s where, from a fitness perspective, I always say, ‘Time is the best healer’.”

He also revealed that his father, in pursuit of their well-being, relocated their family from Lamington Road to Napeansea Road due to the latter's notorious past. “I won’t say it was a notorious area, but there were gangs and stuff like that. And that’s where the first golden gang of Mumbai came up, in Lamington Road, and there was a history to that. And though it was a great place for his business, he didn’t want the kids to grow up in this area because he says, ‘If I allow them to get into a particular age in this area, that would probably impact them and the way they think.’ He begged, borrowed, stole. He did not steal, but they moved into an area with better culture, better schools, better people,” said the actor.

On the work front, Shetty made his OTT debut last year with Dharavi Bank for MX Player. Directed by Samit Kakkad, the web series saw him play a gangster from Mumbai with Vivek Oberoi essaying the role of a cop. His latest web series Hunter – Tootega Nahin Todega released recently on Amazon miniTV.

Shetty will be next seen in Hera Pheri 4, reuniting with co-stars Akshay Kumar and Paresh Rawal. Rawal had earlier shared that the film's shoot will begin in three months and the trio of Raju, Shyam, and Babu Bhaiyya, will travel abroad for the third film.

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