Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (ANK)
Mangaluru, Jan 16: Sunil Shetty expressed his admiration for Roopesh Shetty’s vision, saying, “I observe the scale of Roopesh Shetty’s work and his shots. I never interfere with a director’s work because it’s important for their talent to shine through. I am a proud Tuluva, and I visit Mangaluru (Bappanadu) every year. There’s a deep sense of pride in being Tuluva. Mangaluru is a beautiful city with potential for IT growth, and it boasts stunning beaches and great transport. Through this film, I want to show the world that cinema, even from a regional context, has a global reach.”
Debut in Tulu cinema
Sunil Shetty makes his debut in Roopesh Shetty’s directorial Jai, which features the first-ever helicopter sequence in Tulu cinema, shot at the Adyar Sahyadri College turf ground.
Speaking about his long-standing desire to act in a Tulu film, he said, “About three to four years ago, I had the desire to act in a Tulu film and was waiting for the right subject. I’ve always wanted to do a full-fledged Tulu comedy that could appeal globally. With the rich culture, beautiful locations, beaches, temples, and backwaters, I believe this is ‘God’s own country.’”
Sunil Shetty shared that although he had been interested in Tulu films, finding the right script took time. “Even though I wanted to work in a Tulu film, I didn’t have the time or the right mindset. When I found the right subject, Jai turned out to be a movie for the people. Satellite channels have played a big role in taking South Indian cinema into every household, breaking all barriers,” he added.
The film industry’s potential
Commenting on the potential of the film industry, he said, “We have enormous talent, and sometimes, we need to take risks. The subject needs to resonate with the audience. Movies like Kantara showed that, especially in the last 20 minutes, where the character emotions connected so deeply with me.”
Praise for Roopesh Shetty
Sunil Shetty lauded Roopesh Shetty’s directorial skills, stating, “Roopesh is an amazing director who is conscious of every shot, angle, and backdrop. I always tell him that character positioning is crucial; it’s not about the length of the role but giving full justice to it.”
Insights on Malayalam cinema
Reflecting on Malayalam cinema, Sunil Shetty said, “Malayalam films are intelligent and cost-effective, often requiring minimal budgets to achieve great results. I’ve been following Malayalam cinema for over 30 years and have even done remakes like Gopi Kishan and Hera Pheri.”
Upcoming projects
Sunil Shetty revealed details about his upcoming ventures, including Welcome to the Jungle, the Awara Pagal Deewana franchise, and Hera Pheri 3. “The same characters—Babu Bhaiyya, Raju, and Shyam—will return because without them, it won’t work. Every film that remains memorable in cinema history does so because of its iconic characters,” he noted.
On security concerns
Addressing the recent attack on actor Saif Ali Khan, he said, “Security is the problem. It’s tragic how someone can barge into someone’s house. I only learned about the incident recently, as I was shooting. My thoughts are with the family, and I pray for a speedy recovery.”
Roopesh Shetty’s experience
Director Roopesh Shetty shared his experience working with Sunil Shetty, emphasizing that he had no prior contact with the actor before securing a meeting. “I had zero contact with Sunil Shetty initially. However, once I managed to get an appointment, I narrated the script to him, and he treated me so well. His professionalism is a lesson for all of us. He worked on this film as if it were a Bollywood project,” Roopesh said.
Roopesh added, “We didn’t bring Sunil Shetty on board just for his name. The role was specifically written with a larger-than-life personality in mind, and Sunil Shetty was the perfect fit. Once we approached him, he agreed without hesitation.”