Suniel Shetty, the original macho man of the '90s, just got the ultimate birthday shoutout — not from a fan club, but from someone who knows him better than anyone: his daughter Athiya Shetty. Taking to her IG Stories, the actress dropped a series of adorable posts wishing her dad a happy birthday — but this time, she didn’t just call him “dad.” She called him “Ajja.” Cue collective awws across the internet.
“Happy birthday to the best father and now the best Ajja,” Athiya wrote, with hearts, sparkles, and the kind of affection that can’t be faked. “We love you s000 much!” (Yes, that’s so with three zeroes — because regular spelling clearly can’t contain all that love.) She tagged @suniel.shetty and fans flooded his profile instantly.
But it was one picture that stole the show: Suniel Shetty — in full cool-grandpa mode — pushing Athiya’s baby in a stroller. Long gone are the days of high-octane stunts and flying kicks (okay, maybe not entirely gone), but this image? It’s giving quiet strength, unconditional love, and total Ajja supremacy.
For the uninitiated, Suniel’s been a family man since forever. Married to Mana Shetty (née Monisha Kadri) since 1991 — a powerhouse herself, with roots in design, activism, and business — the Shetty family has long stood as a solid unit in Bollywood's ever-shifting landscape. With Athiya and Ahan Shetty now carrying the torch, and the next generation already winning hearts on stroller rides, the Shetty legacy is looking stronger than ever.
From action hero to doting granddad, Suniel Shetty continues to age like fine wine — with six-pack energy and a heart full of family love. Here’s to more birthdays, more stroller strolls, and a whole lot more of Ajja Shetty being the absolute legend he is.