Early Life
Suniel Veerappa Shetty, born on August 11, 1961, in Mulki, Mangalore, comes from a Mangalorean Tulu-speaking Bunt family. His early education details remain scarce, but he graduated with a degree in Hotel Management from H.R. College of Commerce and Economics in Mumbai.

Personal Life
Suniel Shetty is married to Mana Shetty, and they have two children: Athiya and Ahan Shetty. Both children have followed in their father’s footsteps into acting, with Athiya debuting in “Hero” (2015) and Ahan in “Tadap” (2021). Mana Shetty is also a philanthropist, founding an NGO for underprivileged children. Suniel is a fitness enthusiast and a black belt in kickboxing. He owns clothing stores and restaurants serving Udupi cuisine.

Career
Suniel Shetty’s Bollywood journey began at the age of 31 with his debut in “Balwaan” (1992) alongside Divya Bharti. The film cemented his status as an action hero. Some of his successful films from the 90s include “Waqt Hamara Hai” (1993), “Dilwale” (1994), “Anth” (1994), “Mohra” (1994), “Gopi Kishan” (1994), “Krishna” (1996), “Sapoot” (1996), “Rakshak” (1996), “Border” (1997), “Bhai” (1997), and “Vinashak” (1998). He transitioned to multi-starrer films of various genres in the 2000s and changed his name’s spelling to “Suniel” for numerological reasons.

Shetty has also portrayed antagonistic roles in films like “Dhadkan” (2000), “Khel – No Ordinary Game” (2003), “Baaz: A Bird in Danger” (2003), “Main Hoon Na” (2004), “Rudraksh” (2004), “Cash” (2007), “No Problem” (2010), and “A Gentleman” (2017). His production company, Popcorn Motion Pictures, has produced films such as “Khel – No Ordinary Game,” “Rakht,” and “Bhagam Bhag.”

Entrepreneurial Ventures
Suniel Shetty is an astute businessman. He co-founded F… the Couch (FTC), an online casting platform, and has invested in various sectors, including real estate and restaurants. He owns Mischief Dining Bar, Club H2O, and the water adventure park connected to Cafe H2O in Mumbai. His restaurant ventures also include the Italian restaurant, Little Italy. Additionally, Suniel Shetty is involved in the fitness app Fittr, a successful online health and fitness startup.

Television and Other Work
Suniel Shetty has hosted popular fitness reality shows like “Biggest Loser Jeetega” on Sahara One and “India’s Asli Champion” on &TV. He captains the Mumbai Heroes in the Celebrity Cricket League and co-founded Ferit Cricket Bash, a cricket league launched in December 2018.

In the furniture sector, Shetty and his wife Mana launched a premium furniture and home living store in Mumbai’s Worli district in 2013. He was also a special guest at the Hiru Golden Film Awards in Sri Lanka in 2014 and 2016.

Awards and Recognitions
Suniel Shetty has received numerous accolades throughout his career. He won the Filmfare Award for Best Villain for “Dhadkan” in 2001 and the GIFA Award for Best Villain for “Main Hoon Na.” He received the Stardust Award for Best Actor (Critics Choice) for “Red Alert: The War Within” and the Screen Award and Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor for “Border” in 1998. His performance in “Refugee” earned him another Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Role in 2001, and he won the IIFA award for Best Supporting Actor for “Qayamat.” In 2021, he received the SIIMA Award for Best Actor in a Negative Role for the Tamil film “Darbar.”

Suniel Shetty’s multi-faceted career, spanning over three decades and more than 100 films, coupled with his ventures in business and fitness, solidify his legacy as a dynamic force in the Indian entertainment industry.