Veteran actor Suniel Shetty recently spoke out about a recurring pattern in South‑Indian film offers to Bollywood actors and why he finds that trend troubling. In a candid interview with The Lallantop, he explained that while he does receive offers from South Indian cinema, those offers frequently cast Hindi‑film actors in antagonistic or villainous roles a practice he strongly dislikes.
Suniel clarified that his decision to accept a negative role in the Tamil film Darbar starring Rajinikanth was not a result of shifting preferences, but a deeply personal choice. He said he accepted the part because working with Rajinikanth was a long‑standing professional aspiration.
Despite his openness to films across languages, Suniel emphasised that content remains his priority. He argued that language is no longer a barrier: what truly matters is a film’s substance. If the story is strong, he believes, it should transcend linguistic or regional divides.
His stance underscores a broader conversation about representation and respect in casting. For Suniel Shetty, being cast merely as a stereotype or villain because of one’s language background feels limiting and unfair. He hopes for more meaningful, well‑written roles, regardless of industry or region.
