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'I keep learning from what people say'

Sunil Shetty is a cool guy. He proved it again when he came for The Rediff Chat. The questions ranged from his films to war (the Kargil conflict was on at that time) to his restaurant business. The only time he got somewhat impatient was when he was accused of being condescending. Read on for more

Sunil Shetty:

Hi, I'm here, so shoot!

Sunil, hey there.. remember me..the completely paagal one, who danced with you on stage in Washington DC...how r u?? You realise you were a smash hit at all the shows...so when will you be returning to the States?? And when is your movie, Itifaq coming out??

Neetu: Yes I do, and thanks for calling the show a hit and me a hit, hope to be back soon. Itifaq should be out probably early next year.

Mr Shetty, is it true that you also run a chain of hotels in Bombay?

Sunil Shetty:

Ragini: More like a chain of restaurants, hoping to get into the hotel business soon.

Understand you have a children's entertainment centre coming up What's with that?

Uma: I already have entertainment parlours under the name of Astro Mischief. I have two right now and hope to have many more soon.

Liked your performance in Border. Are u doing any movies like that?

Uma: Yeah I'm trying to make that change. I've got Refugee after Border, I have got Dhadkan and working on a few more.

OK here goes. India's best-known journalist and columnist, M J Akbar, once ripped you asunder in one of his pieces for your "monkey-like dancing." Comment.

Grand Gup: He did? I'm not aware of that. To each his own, I guess that's alright because I keep learning from what people say.

A slightly personal question. You are seen in most non-filmi pictures with glasses. Are they for real or do you wear them just to tone down your muscleman image and look intellectual? :)

Sadhug: They are for real and at the same time also to tone down the muscleman image -- you are so right :-) But intelligent I AM!!!;-)

Mr Shetty: How did u decide to become an actor?

Nandan Lal: I didn't decide, it happened by chance.

Sunil who is the heroine of Dhadkan?

Rahul Bali: Shilpa Shetty is the heroine of Dhadkan.

Do you have a message for Indians in view of the fighting on the Kargil border?

Sadhug: You are the real heroes, keep up the good work.

Mr Shetty: You do so many stunts in films. Why don't you do that stunt in Kargil where our jawans are dying? Any plans to visit them? The film industry is full of hypocrites. Nobody loves the country for real:( :( :(

Soldier: We are planning to do the same and are definitely doing our bit. I think you need to get out off the Net and do your bit. And definitely I do love my country for REAL!

How come you have never been linked to any women in the industry or off it?

Uma: I've been linked only with my wife, so that's the way I want it to be.

Which role of yours have you liked the MOST?

Raj: I loved doing Bhairav Singh in Border.

Sunil Shetty: Who are your favourite stars from Bollywood? How about your faves from Hollywood? Do you like Sly Stallone so much that you modelled yourself on him??

Indian: Amitabh Bachchan, and in Hollywood it's Bruce Willis. I do admire Stallone but I don't ape him.

Hi Sunilsaab, are Bollywood actors doing something for Kargil soldiers? Are they organising any charity shows?

Saeed: Yes, we are. As a matter of fact I am doing a show for them on Sunday, July 4, at the NSE in Bombay and would be willing to do many more if required.

Don'y you guys in Bollywood ever have the itch to play the kind of roles that Hollywood chaps like Tom Hanks and Cruise portray? Except Chakravarthy of Telugu films, no one else has gone to US to hone one's acting skills, which is really a pity!

Grand Gup: The kind of films that sell here in Bollywood are very different as compared to the ones that sell in Hollywood. And that is more so becuase 80 per cent of the people we cater to are uneducated.

Hey Sunil! Say Hi to me!!!

HIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII Kurt *waving*

Hi Sunil Shetty For a moment I thought you aren't here yet but I guess you are. Ok, coming to the point -- from when did you start building those muscles??

Rahul: I've been into fitness and health since the day I've been concious about it.

Sunil: How do you feel about working with beautiful actresses, how do you define their personality?

Pallav: Feels great yaar, they have got a great personality dude:-)

Thanx. Do you like doing comedy films?

Raj: I love comedy and that's why my film Gopi Kishan is one of my favourites.

Sunil, so is Dhadkan an action movie or a romantic movie?

DrJones: It is an out-and-out romantic movie.

I am sitting here in Cairo, making the brochure for the show! Is there anything in particular you would like to be put in your bio?

Nandini: No thank you, but be there for the show.

Sunil, are you disappointed that Hu Tu Tu didn't click at the box office?

Shahezadi: Yes I am -- only shows that films with substance don't necessarily sell.

Any ambitions for Hollywood or other foreign productions?

Sadhug: No, very happy here in Bollywood.

Are you a Vaishnavi? I mean a vegetarian?

Raj: No I'm not. I'm a fisheterian*grin*

Who is your fav co-star among males?

Satish: No personal favourites, I like working with all of them, I mean it.

Sunil Shetty: What is your dream-come-true role?

Indian: The one which Mr Bachchan played in Sharaabi, it had just about every shade.

What is your next film?

Kshama: Hera Pheri directed by Priyadarshan. It's a comedy and one of my fave films now.

Would it be possible for you to tell us about your exercise schedule?

What is your normal diet? And how often and how strenuously do you exercise?

Sadhug and Raj: My normal diet is as normal as anybody else's is, but I believe in having breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a pauper. I put in a good hour, hour-and-a-half every day.

Hello Mr Shetty: Who is your favourite director with whom you have worked?

Soldier: J P Dutta, Gulzar, Rajiv Rai, Priyadarshan.

Do you realise how big your show is going to be in Cairo? Amitabh Bachchan is God over here...with the Egyptians...prepared?

Nandini: Amitabh Bachchan is God, period. The God of Indian cinema. I've just done 19 shows with him all over the world, so you bet I'm prepared.

Hey, Mind your language, buddy. UNEDUCATED? Ha, 80 per cent of Indians you mention are wiser. Only they are *illiterate*. Don't talk like politicians who mention fellow Indians in a condescending way while talking of democracy!

Grand Gup: Uneducated or illiterate, only because they live below the poverty line. So I very well know what I'm talking about buddy. I'm a throughbred Indian and a very proud one, so shut your &****ing mouth.

Pallav: Restaurants and fashion under the name of my brand Mischief. One life to live -- to live to the fullest and that's why I am here.

Mr Shetty: Your best dialogue was in the film Krishna-- eh bhai, khila marke wahinch khade rahne ka. Now, question: How did you learn this dialogue? The way you delivered was just superb. And secondly, do you think yourself as the hero of masses or classes?

Sunil Shetty:

Khamba: Thank you, because you are the first one who says I'm a good actor too *kidding.* Just the way you remembered the dialogue, I remembered it too. I definitely hope to be the hero of the masses and the classes.

Have you ever thrashed anyone in real life? If yes, how badly and for what cause?

Sadhug: I have, but I don't wanna give the details or else I'll be arrested;-)

And let me tell you that it was one of the best acted roles. There was so much of depth/intensity in that role. KUDOS to you, you were superb in that role.

Raj: I guess I believed in Bhairav Singh and what he did for the country and hence the intensity.

Are you related to Aishwarya Rai?

Satish: I wish I could be*lol*

*Reputed* film-makers such as Mani Ratnam (Dil Se) are biting the dust in 1999 like nobody's business. And newcomers like Karan Johar are clicking. Why is it so?

Grand Gup: That's not true. Mani Ratnam is one of the finest directors we have and will always be, one flop doesn't write anybody off, it only makes him work harder.

Sunil Shetty: Have you ever considered playing a negative role, a la Shahrukh in Baazigar?

Indian: No and never want to. I'm a good guy, you see.

Mr Shetty: Are you a Tulu? I mean can you throw some light on your ancestors?

Khamba: Yes I am a Tulu. A 100 per cent 'Bunt' belonging to Mulki in Mangalore.

Has there been any role (in any of your movies) which you found most difficult to fit into?

Raj: Border, Bhairav Singh because I wasn't sure whether I could enact on screen what he did in real life. More so because he is a real hero and I was playing a 'reel' hero.

Sunil Shetty, Thanks so much for answering my questions! Now, which heroine do you like working with best? And why?

Indian: I'd love to work with Kajol because she is an absolute natural.

What is your zodiac sign?

Ashokjaria: I'm Leo, the lion.

Sunil Shetty: Do you have any plans to take up direction? Or will you just 'graduate' to becoming a producer?

Indian: Takes too much to become a director I believe it is one of the toughest positions in filmmaking, hence I think I'll stick to acting for now and then graduate to becoming a producer. Thanks to my business sense.

Hi Shetty, What do you think is a practical solution to Kargil problem?

Racichandran: I think the decision our prime minister has taken is just right because today we have the support of the entire world with us. And hence hopefully soon there will be a solution to this problem and hopefully a peaceful one.

Mr Shetty: What's your height. Some of my friends told me you are not that tall? How far is this true?

Hi, Sunil uncle... I am Nikita... my papa's name is Makarand Bhave... I remember meeting you... How are you?

I'm fine Nikita, say hi to Papa:-)

Khamba: How tall is not that tall:-) I'm 5 feet 11....11 and a half actually! And I think that's tall enough.

Hi Sunil, I'm from Calcutta. Whenever I go to Bombay, I want to go and have lunch in your restaurant. Could you please tell me the proper address?

Vijayjaria: Mischief dining bar, next to Central Plaza, near Charni Rd, Phone 3868886.

Do you surf the Net regularly?

Raj: No, I'm computer ignorant.

Mr Shetty: I liked your a bit negative role in the film Gaddar. Any idea of continuing with those kind of roles? It was just superb.

Reena: Yeah I am playing an anti-hero in the film Dhadkan directed by Dharmesh Darshan for Venus.

Sunil Shetty, In view of the recognition of Bollywood as an industry by the erstwhile minister of I&B, Sushma Swaraj, have things become easier in terms of finding financiers etc? Or do you still rely on personal contacts?

Indian: Finance in the industry is as difficult to get as it always has been. One does still have to rely on personal contact and good will.

Will Sunil Shetty join politics after movies?

Grand Gup: If I could make a difference I wouldn't mind.

Tell me, do Bollywood stars live under constant threat from underworld? I have heard that Aamir Khan always carries a pistol. What about you?

Raj: It's all nonsense -- what you hear and read is not always true. We are absolutely safe out here.

Bye for now, thank you guys, except Grand Gup. Hope to meet you in person sometime, sure you'll never surf the Net again! You guys can reach me at sunilshetty@rediffmail.com