Suniel Shetty attends his first film festival

Suniel Shetty missed his father-in-law's birthday celebration in the US to attend the screening of "Red Alert - The War Within" - a movie that deals with the Maoists - at the 40th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa. The actor-producer says it was a "heartbreaking decision".

"I had to choose between attending my screening in Goa and going for my father-in-law's 80th birthday celebration in the US," Suniel, who attended a film festival for the first time, told IANS

"My wife and her entire family, who are like my own family, is there. I am like a son in my wife's family. Moreover ever since my father-in-law lost his wife, he hasn't been himself. It was a heartbreaking decision. But one that my wife helped me to make."

Suniel's father-in-law turns 80 this week and it is a very special occasion for him.

"But I had to be in Goa for the screening of 'Red Alert'. The film was a sell-out at all the screens in Goa. The film is being recognised at international film festivals," said Suniel who won the best actor award at the South Asian International Film Festival (SAIFF) in New York for his performance in "Red Alert".

Suniel was excited about IFFI because for the first time he was attending a film festival.

"IFFI is my first film festival. Can you believe it? In all these years I've never been to a film festival in my life! I wasn't there at the South Asian International Film Festival in New York where I won the best actor award for my performance in 'Red Alert'. This time I had to be there," he said.

The actor, whose realistic performance as a maoist in "Red Alert" is getting him critical applause, is also pleased with the response to his just-released no-brainer "De Dana Dan".

"It is a full-on paisa-wasool Priyadarshan film. And we've all given our sweat and blood to it," said Suniel.

He had a major accident while shooting the climax of "De Dana Dan" which kept him bedridden for months.

"The chest region is still not fully healed. But like I said 'De Dana Dan' was a whole lot of fun. Then I've another comedy Anees Bazmi's 'No Problem' coming up. I think I am finally done with making mistakes in my career," he said.

Indo-Asian News Service