When Suniel Shetty Was Held at Gunpoint in the US After 9/11

Actor Suniel Shetty recently shared a shocking incident when he was held at gunpoint by police in Los Angeles after the 9/11 attacks in 2001.

At the time, Shetty was in the US shooting for the movie Kaante, directed by Sanjay Gupta. He had just arrived in LA when the World Trade Center attacks happened. He saw the tragic news on TV on the first day of filming, and his wife, Mana Shetty, called him, worried about his safety.

A Terrifying Misunderstanding

A few days later, an incident at his hotel led to a scary misunderstanding. Shetty had forgotten his room key and casually asked a man in the elevator if he had his key. However, the man panicked, ran out, and created a scene.

Soon after, armed police officers rushed in from the street. Shetty recalled, “They pointed guns at me and shouted, ‘Down, or we shoot.’” In shock, he immediately dropped to his knees, and the police handcuffed him.

Why the Situation Got Worse

Shetty believes the situation escalated because of his appearance. He had a beard at the time, and after 9/11, people were scared and suspicious. Luckily, the film crew and a Pakistani hotel manager arrived in time and explained that Shetty was a famous actor, helping to clear up the misunderstanding.

Back to Work After the Scare

Shetty admitted he had no idea what would happen next as the situation was tense and chaotic. He said, “What we went through at that time was insane.”

Despite the frightening experience, Shetty and his team resumed filming after a few days.