I'm proud to be 47, says Suniel Shetty

Aug 12, 2008 Subhash K Jha

Mumbai, Aug 13 (IANS) Actor-producer Suniel Shetty, who has just turned 47, says he is proud that he doesn't look his age, thanks to his strict exercise regime.

"I'm not the least ashamed of being almost 50 because I know I don't look it. I'd like to think my physical fitness and my health consciousness would inspire more people once they know how old I actually I am. Therefore, yes, I can say proudly I am 47 and almost 50," said Suniel, who celebrated his birthday Monday.

Suniel has instilled a fitness consciousness in not only his close friends and family but a lot of other people.

"When I see 60-year old folks in my building working out, taking care of themselves and looking out for their diet, I feel very proud. Somewhere I'd like to think I pioneered a movement towards staying healthy and fit in people around me."

So what did the fitness conscious actor do on his birthday?

"I brought it in with a dinner with my wife, two kids and my parents. They insisted on a cake and all. I was embarrassed but of course pleased. Thank god for family, yaar!

"On Monday I planned to head to our home in Lonavala for the day, but it got so rainy that we just decided to stay home and spend my birthday indoors chatting, eating, playing games. I can't think of a better way to spend my birthday."

The actor admitted that he broke all his diet rules on his birthday.

"I pigged the whole day. My wife Mana was aghast. I told her to chill because I intend to go on an even stricter food regime after my birthday."

Suniel, who is currently shooting for Anant Mahadevan's politically motivated "Red Alert", Indra Kumar's comedy "Daddy Kool" and Kabeer Sadanand's romantic drama "Tum Milo To Sahi", has lots of plans for the coming year.

"My production house Popcorn Entertainment is preparing many projects ... all big. And I don't mean only big in terms of budget. Whether it's 'EMI' with Sanjay Dutt or 'Little Godfather' featuring a cast of unknown street kids, every film of mine is big in vision and scope.

"One thing I'm very sure of. I won't act in my own productions. 'Mission Istanbul' was the last film that I produced and acted in."