Even after decades, Border remains one of Bollywood’s most impactful war films, and for Suniel Shetty, it holds a special place in his career.
Suniel Shetty recalls his emotional visit to Kargil during the war, where an injured soldier recited his Border war cry.
Even decades after its release, Border continues to leave a lasting impact on audiences, and for Suniel Shetty, the film remains a defining milestone in his career. The actor, who played BSF soldier Bhairav Singh in JP Dutta’s 1997 war epic, recently revealed that he initially refused the role due to concerns about the director’s temper. However, it was his mother-in-law who convinced him to take on the project.
Speaking on Chanda Kochhar’s YouTube channel, Suniel shared, “If people remember me long after I’m gone, it will be because of Border.” He admitted that despite loving the script, he hesitated to sign the film after hearing that Dutta had a short temper. “I said no. But JP sir was insistent. He spoke to my mother-in-law and told her, ‘I need him for this film.’ She convinced me to take it up,” Shetty revealed.
Years after Border’s release, Suniel had a deeply emotional experience when he visited Kargil during the 1999 war. “The war was ongoing, and I learned that the soldiers wanted to see me. Despite the danger, I signed a waiver accepting the risk and was flown to Kargil, where shelling was happening above,” he recalled.
Among the many unforgettable moments from his visit, one stood out. Suniel met a 19-20-year-old Sikh soldier who had lost an arm. The young man, drowsy from his injuries, suddenly woke up and began reciting Bhairav Singh’s war cry from Border. The moment overwhelmed Suniel, who said, “I started howling.”
Now, nearly three decades later, Border 2 is in the works, featuring Sunny Deol, Varun Dhawan, and Diljit Dosanjh. Adding to the nostalgia, Suniel’s son Ahaan Shetty has also joined the cast, continuing the legacy of one of Bollywood’s most iconic war films.
