Copyright gqindia
Let’s face it: most men don’t age like fine wine, but Suniel Shetty is a clear outlier. A poster boy for the long-term, tangible benefits of clean, healthy living, Shetty has transcended his reputation as a vintage movie star and, at the age of 64, has been recast as an unlikely internet and pop culture phenomenon. Long known for his martial arts skills and focus on fitness, Shetty is now increasingly being seen as a silver-haired style god—a cool uncle anyone would be proud to have in their corner. The taupe-hued kurta and veshti he rocked for his daughter Athiya’s wedding to cricketer KL Rahul was GQ India’s best menswear look of 2023. He is also a regular guest on some of the country’s most popular podcasts, where his episodes get millions of views and voracious engagement. At a time when people seem adrift and confused about how to live given the tempestuous nature of modern life, audiences are drawn to Shetty’s sagacity, confidence, kindness, business nous and rootedness. This has given him the one reward he never received in full measure during his career in cinema: widespread, unabashed audience love. “I never dreamt of it in my wildest dreams,” Shetty says, referring to his newfound acclaim, while on stage at the GQ Heroes summit. “I guess audiences today connect with the man, not just the movie. Today it’s the end user [not just a director or producer] who decides how they want to look at you—and that’s really the opportunity that I got.” Yet, what are the qualities he possesses that have helped him gain such popularity? “I believe people connect with my mindset; with my honesty, with my humility, which comes from my background. Also, my fitness, which itself has its own fan base. If you look at things right now [in terms of the internet and social media], every individual is being appreciated for who they are and what they are all about. That’s the beauty of this period. That’s why I got the opportunity.” Shetty’s father, Veerappa, ran away from home in Mangalore at the age of nine, and made his way to Mumbai, where he started working as a waiter at an Udupi restaurant. Veerappa toiled night and day, making a success of himself through sheer hard work, determination and intelligence. “He was an uneducated man who had been through so much in life, and yet the only thing he talked about, the one thing he was obsessed with, was giving my sisters and me a great education. He didn’t go to management school, but taught me how to manage my life with honesty. That’s what has made a huge difference as far as I’m concerned. He gave no speeches, but he was there; he showed up every single day. Not just for me, for my mother, his daughters, but also his extended family,” says Shetty, welling up with tears. “I tell parents today, your speeches and talks won’t make a difference to your kids. What’s important is your behaviour and actions. That’s what I picked up from him.” Shetty also observed his father at work and inherited his entrepreneurial talent. He has invested in a slew of ventures over the past 30 years, and many of those ideas have paid off handsomely. One of his most impressive wins is the exit he got on his early investment in men’s grooming brand Beardo, which was acquired by FMCG major Marico. As a result of his business acumen, Shetty has also garnered more than a -million followers on the professional networking platform LinkedIn, where he posts regularly. “For me, business is intent over ideas, people over presentation, value over valuation. I’m an introvert, and the few people I’m connected to, I connect with from the heart. Even if the outcome is a failure, it doesn’t matter to me. I always look at the glass half full, not half empty, and that’s why I’m at peace with myself,” Shetty elaborates. It is evident from the tranquil aura he exudes that he has reached an impressive level of balance, composure and -centredness—seemingly unflappable in the face of the vicissitudes of life. “Stay connected to your roots and it will make all the difference. Children today are filled with stress and anxiety, and that’s because we don’t know where we come from. The minute you connect to your roots, things change. And when you get into sports or fitness, and that becomes your ultimate goal, everything else falls into place. That helps you gain control over yourself and your emotions—which is everything.” Head of Editorial Content: Che Kurrien Hair: Team Hakim's Aalim Make-up: Kiran Nayak Art Director: Mihir Shah Entertainment Director: Megha Mehta Senior Entertainment Editor: Rebecca Gonsalves Visuals Editor: Shubhra Shukla Visuals Consultant: Deepraj Surve Production: Nafromax Productions Fashion Assistants: Mayuri Srivastav, Nandini Jain
