Suniel Shetty On Why He's 'Scarred' Watching Son-In-Law KL Rahul's Matches Live, Manifested Him In Family | EXCL

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to the Jungle star Suniel Shetty, who is fondly known as Anna, used to be an "obsessive sportsman" when he was younger. He represented his school in many sports, including cricket. Now, however, the veteran actor lives out his cricket dreams through son-in-law KL Rahul. On the latest episode of Times Group Editor-in-Chief Navika Kumar's podcast Baatein Dil Se, Suniel shared why he becomes so stressed out watching the vice-captain of the Indian cricket team in the Test format playing live. The actor said that he catches up with his matches by watching the highlights.

Suniel Shetty on why he stays away from son-in-law KL Rahul's matches

The Border actor told Navika Kumar on Baatein Dil Se that he didn't pursue cricket when he was younger because there was a lot of politics then. Suniel recalled, "Probably I was good enough then but there was a lot of politics. [Now] IPL has come and opened up the whole [sport]." But now he is too scared to watch Rahul's matches in person. He stated, ""I'm so nervous when he plays that I don't even watch. I see the highlights. Too much stress. When I don't watch, he does well, fingers crossed. I stopped going to games. Otherwise Suniel Shetty would be in front screaming at every game. I'm so scared. I'm scarred. I stay away from it."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8aenISbxAfk

Suniel recalled going for one game at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. He and his wife Mana were standing in front. When he turned to talk to Mana, Rahul got bowled on the first ball. After that he went inside to sit and didn't come out till the end of the match but still managed to get captured somehow by the cameras. Suniel Shetty feels he manifested Rahul for his family The actor, who is turning 65 later this year, went on to say that he never advises Rahul about the sport. Going down memory lane,Suniel said, "He used to play in Karnataka, Mangalore, probably three kms from where I was born. I loved his game and his format because I loved Rahul Dravid and Sunil Gavaskar. My lineage has come from people who were perfect cricketers. I used to adore him as a player and the kind of person he was. I seriously manifested [him]. Everybody says that you manifested him to be a part of your family."

Suniel also said that he and his wife are also conscious of treating the children from outside, like his son-in-law, as their own. He stated, "You see Mana and Rahul, it's magical. Even mine with Rahul. I never say son-in-law. I honestly believe he's my son." Rahul married Suniel's daughter Athiya Shetty on January 23, 2023, at the family farmhouse in Khandala after four years of dating. The couple welcomed their first child, a daughter named Evaarah, on March 24, 2025.