Exclusive: Suniel Shetty on Diljit Dosanjh’s return to Border 2! Says we should celebrate Diljit and not pull him down

Suniel Shetty reflects on how much Bollywood has changed over the years, the challenges faced by young actors like his son Ahan Shetty and also weighs in on the controversy around Diljit Dosanjh’s casting in Border 2. Excerpts:‘Diljit has put India on the world map when it comes to music’Border 2 faced a setback during the shoot when there was a call to ban Diljit Dosanjh for supporting the release of his movie, Sardaar Ji 3 (outside of India), which featured Pakistani actress Hania Aamir, months after the Pahalgam terror attack.

However, following producer Bhushan Kumar’s intervention, the ban was lifted, allowing him to continue with the film. Talking about it, Suniel says, “When this happened, I thought that there is a world that doesn’t know anything about cinema and is wanting to bring it down.

Someone like Virat Kohli, who has served the country as a cricketer, if he can be trolled, nobody will be spared.”Suniel adds, “The virtual world is feeding us so much that we have forgotten to differentiate.

We don’t realise it is creating a perception, and what is perception? What the eye sees, it believes; what the mind believes, it sees. So, where do you belong is the question. For me, it varies from situation to situation. Diljit is a superstar, he has put India on the world map when it comes to music. He has created hysteria for Indian musicians and artistes.

We should be celebrating him and not pulling him down. If a child has made a mistake, will you punish him or help him overcome it? Border 2 is a film for the country.”

‘Young actors have to deal with trolls today, not the media’Talking about how the online world impacts young actors, he says, “It’s tougher now. Today, young actors don’t have to deal with the media, they have to deal with trolls. These are people who don’t know why they are criticising the actors and films. This virtual world is scary. Otherwise, when it comes to movies, there are great opportunities as many platforms are making content in various forms.”On how digitisation is reshaping the business of cinemaSuniel, who was last seen in Kesari Veer, points out how digitisation is reshaping the business of cinema. “Earlier, makers made films, but today, excel sheets are making movies. When a film released on Friday, the producer would be stressed and think, ‘Kya weekend ke baad picture giregi?’ Kya Monday ko picture ko khada karna padega? Picture kahan thandi chal rahi hai? Kahan poster lagane hain? Today, when the film releases on Friday aur jahan Saturday-Sunday ko films ko chalana hai, film corporates ko chhutti hai.

Middleman ko nikala hai, technology has taken over. Online sab ho raha hai, but chhote centres ka kya? The personal touch has gone.”