Before making a name for himself in Bollywood, Suniel Shetty had dreamt of becoming a cricketer. A passionate sports enthusiast, the actor never imagined that years later, his daughter Athiya Shetty would marry Indian cricketer KL Rahul. The couple tied the knot in 2023 and are now parents to a daughter, Evaarah Vipula, who was born last year.Looking back on his first meeting with Rahul, Suniel revealed that he encountered the cricketer long before he became part of the family, and at the time, he was simply an admirer.“It was a fanboy moment. I met him as a fan much, much before they met each other. To this day, that’s how I look at him — somebody who’s very well-spoken, soft, humble, and leaves a huge impact on the youth whenever and wherever he plays,” the actor said.Speaking to Mid-Day, Suniel shared that he refrains from giving career advice to KL Rahul, just as he avoids doing so with his son, actor Ahan Shetty. Instead, conversations at home focus on values rather than professions.“I don’t give advice to both my boys. Like I say, we don’t discuss careers at home; we discuss character. We keep it very, very simple,” he said.Despite his lifelong love for cricket and his close ties to the sport through Rahul, Suniel admitted that he never became part of the Indian Premier League (IPL) boom. Reflecting on the league’s early days, he said he could have afforded to own a franchise but lacked the backing and ecosystem that entrepreneurs have today.“I could’ve bought a team. If somebody would’ve backed me, I probably would’ve gone into it. In today’s time, you have funders, VCs (Venture Capitalists), and investors who are keen to invest with you. Back then, it wasn’t that way. We couldn’t even think of spending so much money,” he confessed.The actor also reflected on Shah Rukh Khan’s successful entry into the IPL with the Kolkata Knight Riders franchise, which was purchased for Rs 570 crore. He credited Shah Rukh’s timing and support system, including longtime collaborator Juhi Chawla and her husband, businessman Jay Mehta.“Shah Rukh was at the right place at the right time, and with the right people. And me, being an introvert, I was… like I said, Shah Rukh was in a better place,” Suniel admitted.Praising his Main Hoon Na co-star, he added, “I always believed Shah Rukh is an absolute visionary. Whatever he’s done in life, he’s done it so beautifully.”Suniel Shetty was last seen in Ahmed Khan’s adventure comedy Welcome to the Jungle.
