Suniel Shetty, a prominent figure in Bollywood, has recently opened up about his reasons for not frequently appearing in South Indian films. In a recent interview with The Lallantop, the actor explained that while he receives offers from the South Indian film industry, he often declines them due to a recurring trend he finds unfavorable.

Shetty, who proudly identifies as a Mangalorean, revealed that many South filmmakers approach Hindi film heroes primarily to cast them as antagonists. According to Shetty, the South film industry often wants to portray Bollywood actors in negative roles to elevate the local hero, a pattern he "doesn't like". He believes this typecasting confines Hindi actors and doesn't align with his professional preferences.

The actor clarified that he made an exception to this rule when he accepted a role in Rajinikanth's film Darbar. Shetty stated that working with Rajinikanth was a lifelong dream, and he wanted to "tick that box" of collaborating with the superstar, even if it meant playing a negative character. He has also played a negative role in Main Hoon Na.

Despite his reservations about playing villains in South Indian films, Shetty remains connected to his roots and supportive of regional cinema. He recently made a cameo appearance in a Tulu film called Jai to encourage filmmaking in Karnataka. He mentioned that Jai was a successful Tulu film, and he wanted to support the local industry.

Shetty also expressed his views on the evolving landscape of Indian cinema, emphasizing that language is no longer a significant barrier. He believes that compelling content transcends linguistic boundaries and can resonate with audiences across different regions. "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 said.

In 2025, Suniel Shetty appeared in Kesari Veer and Nadaaniyan. His upcoming projects include Welcome to the Jungle and Hera Pheri 3.