Suniel Shetty explains why he avoids South films: ‘They want us only as antagonists’

Suniel Shetty explains why he avoids South films: ‘They want us only as antagonists’

Actor Suniel Shetty has shed light on why he rarely signs South Indian films, despite being a Mangalorean and maintaining a strong fan base across regions. Speaking to The Lallantop, the actor said that although he receives several offers from the South, the roles are often limited to antagonists, a pattern he has consciously chosen to avoid.

Suniel explained that filmmakers in South industries frequently approach Hindi film stars for powerful negative characters. According to him, the idea is that a Bollywood face adds weight and presence to a villainous role, creating a stronger on-screen dynamic. But this typecasting is something he has never been comfortable with.

“I do get offers (from the South), but unfortunately, what happens is, you will notice this trend that we get offers for negative roles. They want to cast the Hindi heroes as powerful… from an antagonistic point of view, that’s good for the screen and for the audience. And that is one thing that I don’t like,” he said.

The actor recalled the rare exceptions he has made. He worked with Rajinikanth purely out of admiration and the desire to share the screen with the superstar. He also recently appeared in a Tulu film titled Jai. The film features him in a cameo, and he said he took up the role to encourage the regional industry. The film is performing well, and Suniel said he was happy to support a project rooted in his cultural background. He also emphasised that the lines between industries are dissolving faster than ever. “Today, there is no language barrier. If there is a barrier, then it’s perhaps because of the content. If your content is good, it will cross all barriers,” he noted.

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Suniel Shetty is now gearing up for a major non-fiction project, Bharat Ke Super Founders, which will stream for free on Amazon MX Player. The entrepreneurial reality series brings together some of India’s most promising startup founders, who will pitch to a panel backed by a Rs 100 crore investment commitment. As the host and mentor, Suniel is responsible for guiding the participants through tough pitches, business assessments and real-world scrutiny. He described the show as a tribute to “the changemakers shaping tomorrow,” and said he feels honoured to help amplify stories of innovation.

On the film front, Suniel will return to two big franchises: Hera Pheri 3 and Welcome To The Jungle. Both projects have generated strong anticipation, bringing him back into mainstream Bollywood with roles his fans are eager to see.