Bollywood actor Suniel Shetty turns a year older today. On his special day, check out his throwback interview from the year 1996 when he exclusively talked to Lehren about his career and struggles, little daughter, dream role and his conflict with Akshay Kumar.
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00:00 I used to feel uneasy when I came here, but now after the film has been released, I automatically feel confident.
00:07 After I feel confident, I have adjusted myself to the atmosphere.
00:15 So I know all the people I am working with.
00:17 It's much easier initially to feel people laughing at me.
00:21 But now I know that my set of people who are watching me, are watching me because they are a friend of me also.
00:28 It's my audience, it's my fans that are watching me.
00:31 So I am not as conscious.
00:32 And success does help in a lot of ways too.
00:35 Easier in acting, in action, in dancing, in anything.
00:39 In both things, you are modelling for your own business.
00:41 Definitely. I am the PRO.
00:43 I always say, be it my restaurant mischief or my boutique mischief, I am the best PRO for my business.
00:50 If my partner asks me or my cousins ask me, what are you doing in the business?
00:53 I say, I am your best public relation officer.
00:55 I give you the kind of advertising, know this.
00:58 And yeah.
01:00 And when you did Akshay, I would have seen you and Akshay, I mean, your close, neck to neck conversation.
01:06 What was the reason?
01:07 That is because Akshay and me came at the same time.
01:09 Akshay himself is a big martial artist, great martial artist.
01:13 I believe, Sawad is the best in the Indian industry.
01:19 He has changed the face of action also.
01:21 So that is why the comparison all the time.
01:24 Again, we are and we were good friends.
01:27 And both being action heroes and both coming in at the same time has triggered this off.
01:35 But in real, nothing, nothing, never.
01:38 I am very fond of Akshay.
01:40 There was a little bit of tension I had with Prithvi Sakthi and things like that.
01:44 But that is all over with now.
01:45 And we are doing films together.
01:47 We are doing Jai Dev Thakur's Saputh.
01:50 We are doing Rajiv Roy's next.
01:52 And we are also doing one more for Venus.
01:55 You are doing with your daughter, I mean, you are doting father.
01:58 Is this the sort you love doing with your daughter?
02:01 Like her work?
02:03 No, I love doing anything with her and everything with her.
02:06 Right from waking up in the morning with her, giving her breakfast, playing with her, being a donkey for her, being a monkey for her, being like a child for her.
02:15 I will do anything for her.
02:17 Giving her a bath, putting her to bed.
02:21 Oh, everything, everything.
02:24 What is your motto in your film?
02:26 Live and let live.
02:28 I don't interfere in anybody else's business and I don't expect anybody to interfere in mine.
02:33 I do exactly what I feel is right.
02:35 I have to feel, you know, what I am doing is right.
02:38 I will do anything.
02:39 Nobody can stop me.
02:41 And something I want to be remembered by someone who has influenced the youth of today to do things right.
02:51 To be conscious about health because I believe a healthy mind, a healthy body breeds a healthy mind.
02:57 And hence I want the kids to be aware of health, of fitness, saying yes to life, no to drugs.
03:04 Being conscious about everything because that is what life is all about.
03:09 So I want at least, even if ten kids follow me on my path of being sincere to their work, hardworking, physique conscious, health conscious, diet conscious, I would be more than happy.
03:24 If I can influence children to do that.
03:28 And it's happening to a great extent.
03:31 I mean, I know boys have started reacting, little boys have started reacting to my physique and you know, they want to be tough.
03:38 If they feel they want to be tough, then there are a lot of things they have to keep out of their life.
03:44 Like smoking and drinking.
03:45 And I am sure they will do that.
03:47 And if I can manage that, enough.
03:49 I don't want a position in the industry.
03:50 I don't want to be number one, two, three, four, five.
03:53 I want to be there.
03:55 Make sure my distributors, exhibitors make money, my audience is happy and have a definite following for myself.
04:01 Do you think you are having the last laugh with all the people who are in the beginning of your work?
04:08 I am not having the last laugh but I want them also on my side now.
04:14 Today they are with me.
04:16 The same people.
04:17 I mean, my biggest example when I started was even Mr. Bachchan people have said the same thing too.
04:22 I am not saying I am anywhere close to him.
04:24 No.
04:25 But I am giving an example of how he started.
04:27 All these guys who, Sanju they said, he is a Charsi, he can't make it.
04:32 Sanju hit back.
04:33 Sunny, he is too good and he can't make it.
04:35 Jackie.
04:36 So I take example of my seniors whom I am extremely fond of.
04:40 I mean, for me, Jackie, Sunny, Sanju mean a hell of a lot to me.
04:44 I mean, I adore them.
04:45 So also Mr. Bachchan.
04:46 And they fucked their way through everything.
04:49 And today I am, even if I am not in their position, I have managed to make a slug for myself.
04:55 I have an audience, I have an opening and I am comfortable.
04:59 I mean, I call the shots today definitely.
05:02 If I don't get my prize, I don't work.
05:04 Whoever it may be.
05:06 So, I am kind of having a last laugh in the sense I proved them wrong.
05:11 But today they are with me.
05:12 The same lot is with me and very supportive towards me, very protective towards me, which is a good feeling.
05:18 What is your dream role today?
05:20 Sharabi.
05:21 And Mr. Bachchan.
05:23 I want to play that character.
05:25 So lovable, yet so vulnerable.
05:30 Hurt within, but he is always laughing outside.
05:35 Loves his father, at the same time hates his father.
05:40 It's amazing that characterization.
05:43 I would like to do something like Sharabi.
05:45 I feel it is Bachchan's best film and performance.
05:50 I mean, he is giving much bigger hits.
05:52 I am talking about personal.
05:55 The first time you signed an autograph, how was it like?
05:59 Oh, dynamite.
06:00 I was too embarrassed, too shy.
06:02 I didn't know whether I should.
06:03 It is mooty.
06:04 I didn't know whether I should or I shouldn't.
06:06 I knew that boy didn't know me.
06:08 I knew that little kid didn't know me.
06:10 But they were signing me because I was in front of the camera.
06:12 They asked me to sign an autograph.
06:14 So, it was very embarrassing, but I quickly did it.
06:17 Okay, thank you.
06:18 Thank you.
06:20 [Music]