When Suniel Shetty Was Held at Gunpoint By Cop in Los Angeles After 9/11

Suniel Shetty recently shared a terrifying experience from his time in the United States during the 9/11 attacks. The actor recalled how he was held at gunpoint by police officers.

Suniel Shetty recently shared a terrifying experience from his time in the United States during the 9/11 attacks.

Source : Instagram/@suniel.shetty

Bollywood actor Suniel Shetty recently shared a terrifying experience from his time in the United States during the 9/11 attacks. The actor, who was shooting for the film ‘Kaante’ in Los Angeles, recalled how he was held at gunpoint by police officers, handcuffed, and forced to kneel—all because of his appearance. 

Sunil Shetty recalls being taken at gunpoint

Speaking on Chanda Kochhar’s YouTube channel, Shetty recounted the chilling incident that unfolded shortly after the World Trade Center attacks in 2001. The film’s director, Sanjay Gupta, and the cast, including Shetty, had just arrived in LA when the tragedy struck. The actor recalled being in his hotel room, watching the first visuals of the attack on television, struggling to comprehend if what he was seeing was real. 

However, it was an incident at his hotel that turned into a personal nightmare. Shetty explained that he had walked into the hotel elevator, only to realise he had forgotten his keys. He then asked an American guest if he had a spare key. What followed was shocking. 

“…Me being taken at gunpoint, because I had this beard. We shot after a few days and I was walking into the hotel. I went into the lift and had forgotten my keys. So this American gentleman was there. He kept looking at me and I said, ‘Do you have the keys? Because I have forgotten mine and my staff has gone out.’ He ran out and created commotion. So the cops came in, from the street, gunmen, and they said ‘Down or we shoot,’” Shetty recalled. 

Production came to the rescue

The actor was left stunned by the sudden turn of events. He was forced onto his knees and handcuffed, with no idea what was happening. The situation escalated quickly, and panic ensued. It was only when the production team arrived and intervened that the situation de-escalated. A hotel manager, who happened to be a Pakistani gentleman, stepped forward and explained to the authorities that Shetty was an actor. 

“And that’s when the production came, and one of the managers was a Pakistani gentleman in the hotel. He came there and he said, ‘He is an actor.’ All that we’ve been through that time, it was insane. I didn’t know what was going to happen next because there was so much commotion, and my beard was that jawline beard,” Shetty said. 

Reflecting on the incident, Shetty admitted that a simple gesture for a key had led to the misunderstanding. “I thought he didn’t understand the language, maybe he didn’t speak English. So I gestured key, lift—it worked against me.”