Suniel Shetty, who turned 65 this month, offered a candid look at how his mindset around work and identity has shifted over the decades. In a heartfelt ‘LinkedIn’ note, the actor spoke about moving away from chasing financial milestones toward a more grounded, purpose-driven phase of both his career and personal life.
Shetty spoke at length about the importance of accepting age-appropriate roles, calling it central to his continued relevance in the industry. “Accepting roles which were age-appropriate is the only reason I’ve landed myself into this position, because there’s no point competing with kids half your age who are better looking, better built and masters of their craft,” he said.
He also addressed how he approaches ageing itself, framing it as a natural process rather than something to resist entirely. “I’m consistently working on myself, so I wouldn’t say it’s anti-ageing, but I’ve delayed the process of ageing and it’s nothing to be shy about. Wrinkles will always be there and that is a part of my life now.”
Having built his early career as one of the leading action heroes of the 1990s, Shetty also reflected on how depictions of on-screen masculinity have changed since his time. Comparing the writing of that era with today’s films, he said, “Alpha were the scripts then… It’s sometimes difficult to even watch a complete action scene because of blood and gore in it and that’s the only thing that I don’t like about films today,” pointing to the increasingly graphic nature of contemporary action cinema as something he personally finds off-putting.
Asked about what has kept him consistently relevant in the industry, Shetty credited his selectiveness in choosing projects and collaborators, along with a sense of inner contentment.