Actor Suniel Shetty recently revealed that his daughter Athiya Shetty has made the decision to permanently leave Bollywood, opting to concentrate on her most fulfilling role to date: motherhood.
But let’s be real—it might not be just about choosing motherhood. Athiya hasn’t done a film in nearly 7-8 years. It’s also likely that years of online trolling over her performances in the few films she did pushed her into retreat.
Also Read – Akshay’s Sequel Curse: ‘Part 3’ Unluckiest Number?
Choosing motherhood may be a happy decision, but it could also be a soft exit strategy.
Athiya made her Bollywood debut back in 2015 with the Salman Khan-backed Hero, starring alongside Sooraj Pancholi. She followed it up with a two-year gap before appearing in the romantic comedy Mubarakan and was last seen in Motichoor Chaknachoor opposite Nawazuddin Siddiqui in 2019.
Also Read – 2 Years, 6 Franchise Films: Smartest Superstar?
Since then, Athiya has mostly been in the news for her personal life—particularly after marrying cricketer KL Rahul in 2023. The couple welcomed their baby daughter earlier this March.
In the interview Suniel Shetty explained how Athiya just walked up to him and confessed she isn’t interested in doing films anymore and left without another word.
Also Read – Pregnant Kiara: Yash’s Shocking Decision on Toxic
He further added that Athiya has taken to motherhood naturally and is now fully focused on this new chapter in her life.
The announcement sparked mixed reactions on social media, with some users remarking that they hadn’t even known Athiya Shetty had made a Bollywood debut in the first place.
Still, it’s commendable that Athiya has chosen to do what she truly wants—unlike many nepo kids who stick around in the industry purely for stardom and spotlight.
Bollywood launches dozens of star kids each year, with films that seem tailor-made for their debuts. Most of them continue without ever questioning the process.
In Athiya’s case, she sets an example that it’s okay to walk away from something that doesn’t fit—even when you come from privilege.
