Veteran actor Suniel Shetty has strongly reacted to the belief that Bollywood is a toxic industry. Speaking at the ABP News Ideas of India 2026 summit, Suniel Shetty said the Hindi film industry is often judged only by controversies. However, he insisted that many good and sincere people work in Bollywood.
According to Suniel Shetty, the issue is not the industry itself but the way it is portrayed. Celebrities live in the public eye. Therefore, they face constant comments and criticism. While some of it is fair, much of it creates a one-sided image.
He stressed that Bollywood has much more to offer than what is shown in headlines.
Suniel Shetty Slams ‘Bollywood Is Toxic’ Narrative
During the session, Suniel Shetty directly addressed the common claim that Bollywood is linked only with scandals like drugs or #MeToo. He explained how public figures are always under scrutiny.
He said, “Kyuki actor, singer, sportsman, entertainer ho… woh hamesha public ke aankho mein rehta he aur bohot saare comments uske upar hote he, negative as well as positive, islliye woh mushkil hota he. Achche log he… I don’t think ki Bollywood mein achche log nahi he. The thing is ek narrative hamesha hota hain Bollywood ke baare mein. Ki nahi yaar, drugs ke baare mein toh Bollywood he. #MeToo hain toh Bollywood hain. Aisa nahi hai.” (Be it an actor or a singer, or an entertainer, they are always in the public domain. They have to face so many comments, and it is tough. There are good people. I don’t think there are no good people in Bollywood. The thing is there is always a narrative on Bollywood that be it drugs or #MeToo, it is always in the news. That is not true.)
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He further added, “There are beautiful people in this industry. I don’t think it is just Bollywood, ye baat life mein bhi hain. Kyuki abuse is views. TRP jab milti hain jab aap gaali dete ho (It is something that extends to life. Because to abuse is get views! It is more TRP when someone abuses). It is not about whether the news is right, it is about whether the news is first.”
His Advice To Son Ahan Shetty
Apart from defending the industry, Suniel Shetty also spoke about his son, Ahan Shetty. He said he always advises Ahan to focus on being a good person first and then a good actor. For Suniel Shetty, staying grounded and connected to one’s roots is more important than fame.
Ahan was last seen in Sunny Deol-led Border 2, a spiritual sequel to Border. The film was released on January 23 and reportedly collected Rs 327 crore net in India. Suniel Shetty had starred in the original Border, which made the sequel special for the family.
Suniel Shetty: Work Front
In 2025, he appeared in Kesari Veer and Nadaaniyan. On the digital front, he led the action series Hunter: Tootega Nahi Todega as ACP Vikram Chauhan. He also hosted the reality show Bharat Ke Super Founders on Amazon Prime Video.
Looking ahead, Suniel Shetty will star in Welcome to the Jungle, set to release on June 26, 2026. His upcoming line-up also includes Hera Pheri 3, the thriller Nanda Devi with Pooja Bhatt, and a possible web series based on the book Black Scorpion.
