Suniel Shetty was advised not to marry Mana early in his Bollywood career; faced opposition even from parents - Here's Why

Suniel Shetty’s love story with Mana Shetty has always been an inspiration. Long before he became an action star with his 1992 debut 'Balwan', he had already tied the knot with his girlfriend Mana in 1991. It later came to light that while the actor's heart was set on tying the knot, he faced major opposition from many, including his parents.In a past conversation with Pinkvilla, Suniel once shared that his marriage with Mana wasn’t easy in the beginning, as she did not belong to his community. His parents were firm that the two could not marry because of this difference. “Mere maa-baap clear the ki shaadi honi nahi hai. Aap shaadi kar nahi sakte ho, community alag hai unki. Lekin usne kabhi aisa nahi socha. Usne hamesha kaha ki I'll be with you as long as you want me to be part of your life,”The 'Hera Pheri' actor recalled how he was always sure about how, no matter what happened in his career, Mana would never leave his side. Her constant and unconditional support gave him the confidence to marry her when he signed his first film. He recalled how many people advised him against marrying so early in his career, but he was clear in his decision.Suniel said, “Isliye jab pehli film mujhe mili. I think ussi time humne shaadi karne ka decide kar liya. I was married even before my first release. Jabki dunia ne kaha ki yaar agar aapne shaadi kar li to wo fan-following nahi hoti hai. Ladkiyon ki fan-following nahi hoti hai. Bahot logon ne discourage kiya lekin I had made up my mind.” (“That’s why when I got my first film, we decided to get married around the same time. I was married even before my first release. People kept saying that if I got married, I wouldn’t have a fan following, especially among girls. Many tried to discourage me, but I had already made up my mind.)Suniel Shetty once revealed that his wife Mana’s love was never dependent on his success. He said she would have supported him even if he had not achieved anything in life. However, Shetty admitted that her self-respect has always been unwavering. “Mujhe pata tha ki failure hota, main kuch achieve nahi kar pata, wo mujhe zindagi mein nahi chhodti. Yes, mera behavior galat rahta, main committed nahi hota, to definitely chhod deti. Wo self-respect Mana mein tab bhi tha, aur aaj bhi hai,” (I knew that if I had failed or achieved nothing in life, she would never have left me. But yes, if my behavior was wrong or if I wasn’t committed, then she would definitely have left me. That self-respect was always there in Mana, and it still is today), he said.