Ideas of India 2026: Suniel Shetty Says He Rejected Border Before Mother-In-Law Convinced Him

Ideas of India 2026: Suniel Shetty opened up about why he initially rejected JP Dutta's Border and revealed that his mother-in-law later convinced him to do the film.

Ideas of India 2026: Bollywood actor Suniel Shetty graced ABP Network’s Ideas of India 2026 and spoke during a session titled “The Unbreakable Star - Resilience, Power, Passion”, which will be moderated by Chitra Tripathi. He started the session by praising singer Armaan Malik and revealed how he got his first break. 

Suniel Shetty On Getting His First Break

“I never imagined that I would become a part of this industry. Martial arts played a big role in shaping my discipline and mindset. When I received the offer, I went to my father and asked him what I should do. He told me, ‘You only get one life, give it a shot and do your best. But whatever you do, stay true to yourself and your values.’ I believe my journey truly began from that moment.”

When He Initially Rejected Border

“I said no to Border because I was told that JP Dutta is a very strict director and that he can be very blunt on set. Somewhere, I was similar at that time. A bit headstrong and set in my ways. I knew I was sincere about my work, but I didn’t like being told off by anyone. I assumed there would be constant fireworks on set and that things wouldn’t work out, so I initially refused,” revealed Suniel Shetty. 

He added that it was ultimately his mother-in-law who convinced him to take up Border. “I then said yes to the film, went on set, and met JP Dutta. From that day till today, we’ve been the best of friends,” said Suniel Shetty.

The actor admitted that not doing Border could have cost him dearly. “It is a very important film in my life. Had I not done it, people might have forgotten me. I was representing the armed forces of my country, and that meant everything to me,” he shared.

He also revealed that he ensured his son, Ahaan Shetty, did not repeat the same mistake. “When we found out that Ahaan was being considered for Border 2, we were the first ones to say yes, even before hearing the script,” he added.

About Ideas of India 2026

ABP Network Ideas of India returns as a two-day gathering that brings together leading figures from cinema, arts, and public life. The opening day will feature celebrated names from the film industry, such as Suniel Shetty, Shah Rukh Khan, Shreya Ghoshal, Neeraj Ghaywan, Vishal Jethwa and Ishaan Khatter, who will share their insights across engaging sessions.

On Day 2, the spotlight shifts to Kanu Behl, Aranya Sahay, Christo Tomy, Adnan Sami, Sanya Malhotra, Pankaj Tripathi and Anil Kapoor. Alongside film personalities, the summit convenes policymakers, corporate leaders and more. The central theme focuses on assessing India’s achievements so far while envisioning the country’s roadmap to 2047, when it completes 100 years of independence.

Suniel Shetty’s Upcoming Projects

Suniel Shetty recently made a cameo appearance in Sunny Deol’s Border 2 and has a busy slate ahead. The actor will next be seen in the comedy franchise films Welcome to the Jungle and Hera Pheri 3, both of which are among the most anticipated releases.

Shetty is also mentoring entrepreneurs on Bharat Ke Super Founders, which streams on Prime Video. The high-intensity business reality show showcases some of India’s most ambitious entrepreneurs presenting their ventures to secure genuine, pre-approved funding opportunities, with a total investment pool of ₹100 crore allocated for the season.