Suniel Shetty has shared that his daughter Athiya Shetty has decided to step away from her career in Bollywood to begin a new journey as a mother. Speaking in an interview, the veteran actor reflected on Athiya’s conscious choice to leave the film industry behind, describing her decision with admiration and respect.
“She said, ‘Baba, I don’t want to,’ and she just left. And that’s what I salute her for saying, ‘I’m not interested. I don’t want to do films.’ After Motichoor Chaknachoor, a lot came her way. ‘But I don’t want to. I’m comfortable, you know?’” Suniel recounted, highlighting the clarity and conviction behind her decision.
For Suniel, Athiya’s departure from cinema isn’t an exit but rather an evolution into a more meaningful phase of life. “And today, she’s got the best role of her life. You know, she’s working in the best film – and that is life. The role of a mother. And she’s loving it,” he said, beaming with pride.
Athiya made her acting debut in 2015 with Hero, a film that also launched Sooraj Pancholi. Despite a few notable appearances in films such as Mubarakan and a special role in Nawabzaade, Athiya never positioned herself as a central figure in the film industry. Her final appearance was in Motichoor Chaknachoor (2019), where she starred opposite Nawazuddin Siddiqui.
Suniel Shetty, who has always spoken openly about his love for family, has previously expressed his joy at becoming a grandfather. With Athiya now embracing motherhood, the Shetty household enters a joyful new chapter, one that Suniel calls “the best film” she could ever be part of.
