Aug 11, 2024 06:23 AM IST
Sunil Shetty turns 63 today. When he debuted in 1992, he was considered a threat to Akshay Kumar, one of the top heroes of that time.
Suniel Shetty turns 63 today. There was a time when the actor, who debuted with the 1992 film Balwaan, was considered a threat to Akshay Kumar, who was already a success. There were rumours about their ‘rivalry’ with Rediff even writing in 1997 that Suniel was ‘jerking off’ Akshay. Talking about their alleged rivalry, here’s what Suniel told the website at the time. (Also Read: Mukesh Chabra reveals Suniel Shetty gifted him his Versova bungalow when he cast Athiya Shetty in Hero)
‘I don’t decide who I want to be photographed with’
Sunil and Akshay posed for the magazine cover along with Aishwarya Rai and Sushmita Sen. When it was seen as a ‘competition to outdo each other’, Sunil claimed that there is ‘no problem’ between the actors.
He said, “Let me tell you that the rivalry between us is created by the media. I don’t decide who I pose with, the magazines decide. Akki and I don’t have any problem, it seems there is some kind of internal rivalry going on between the magazines. So if one magazine uses Akki and Sushmita, another tries to use me and Aishwarya. As far as we are concerned, posing for pictures is part of our profession, we do it in the same spirit, and that’s all there is to it.”
Sunil was also asked if people believed that they were rivals, even though that was the story being made at that time. He replied, “Of course they don’t believe that – fans are not that stupid. See, they know that magazines are competing with each other, they put all kinds of sensational stuff on the cover to sell more copies. But that doesn’t mean that the person who is reading the story about who is sleeping with whom necessarily believes it.”
Sunil Shetty has an old relationship with Akshay Kumar
Contrary to rumours, the actors have been working together frequently since starring in the 1993 films Waqt Hamara Hai and Pehchaan. They also worked together in the 1994 hit Mohra. Akshay and Sunil also made a transition from action to comedy in the 2000 film Hera Pheri alongside Paresh Rawal. Since then, they have worked in films such as Dhadak, Awara Paagal Deewana and Deewane Huye Paagal. Akshay and Sunil will soon be seen in Welcome to the Jungle and Hera Pheri 3.
