KL Rahul calls Suniel Shetty 'Best Ajja' on his birthday
Synopsis
KL Rahul's birthday post for father-in-law Suniel Shetty — featuring baby Evaarah — is the rare crossover moment where cricket and Bollywood meet in a single Instagram frame. With Ajay Devgn, Jackie Shroff, and Sonu Sood all joining in, Shetty's birthday became one of the warmest celebrity moments of the week.
Key Takeaways
KL Rahul wished father-in-law Suniel Shetty on his birthday on 11 August , calling him the 'Best Ajja' on Instagram Stories.
Rahul shared a photo of Shetty holding granddaughter Evaarah , the couple's daughter born on 24 March 2025 .
Athiya Shetty and Ahan Shetty also posted birthday tributes for their father on Instagram.
Bollywood stars including Ajay Devgn , Jackie Shroff , Sonu Sood , and Shilpa Shirodkar shared heartfelt wishes for Shetty.
Suniel Shetty debuted in Bollywood in 1992 with 'Balwan' and has over three decades of films to his name.
Indian cricketer KL Rahul took to social media on Tuesday, 11 August to wish his father-in-law, veteran Bollywood actor Suniel Shetty, a happy birthday — sharing an endearing photograph of Shetty cradling his granddaughter Evaarah and calling him the 'Best Ajja'. The post, shared on Rahul's Instagram Stories, offered a rare glimpse into the family's private moments and drew warm reactions from fans across both cricket and Bollywood circles.
The Birthday Wish That Won the Internet
Rahul posted an adorable picture of Suniel Shetty holding little Evaarah in his arms, captioning it: 'Happy birthday to the best ajja', followed by a hug emoji and a red heart. 'Ajja' is a Kannada term of endearment for grandfather, a nod to Rahul's South Indian roots and the family's bilingual warmth.
His wife Athiya Shetty also marked the occasion by posting a childhood family photograph on her Instagram Stories, writing: 'Happy Birthday Papa, I love you so much.' Suniel's son and actor Ahan Shetty added his own tribute — a father-son picture captioned simply: 'Happy Birthday Papa.'
Bollywood Fraternity Joins the Celebration
The birthday greetings extended well beyond the family. Actor Ajay Devgn shared a throwback still from the 1994 film 'Dilwale', writing: 'Happy Birthday Suniel Anna, ek dilwale ki taraf se dusre dilwale ko.'
Jackie Shroff posted a candid photograph of the 'Dhadkan' star, affectionately calling him 'Asli Bhidu forever.' Actor Sonu Sood penned: 'Janmadin ki badhai Anna, aapka saal shandar ho.' Suniel's 'Gopi Kishan' co-star Shilpa Shirodkar shared a still from the film, writing: 'Sab ke liye Anna but mere liye my only Gopi. Wishing you an awesome birthday Suniel.'
The Rahul-Athiya Family Story
Athiya Shetty and KL Rahul reportedly began dating in 2019 and married on 23 January 2023 at Suniel Shetty's farmhouse in Khandala. On 24 March 2025, the couple welcomed their first child — a baby girl they named Evaarah. The arrival of Evaarah made Suniel Shetty a first-time grandfather, a role he has clearly embraced with visible joy.
Suniel Shetty: A Career in Highlights
Suniel Shetty made his Bollywood debut with 'Balwan' in 1992 and went on to build one of Hindi cinema's most recognisable action-hero legacies. His filmography includes landmark titles such as 'Mohra', 'Border', 'Dhadkan', 'Hera Pheri', 'Main Hoon Na', 'Phir Hera Pheri', and 'Awara Paagal Deewana'. With a career spanning over three decades, he remains a beloved figure across generations of Hindi film audiences.
As Evaarah grows, the Rahul-Shetty family's public moments — rare as they are — continue to resonate with fans who have followed both Rahul's cricketing journey and the Shetty family's Bollywood legacy.
Point of View
But it underlines something the entertainment press rarely pauses on: KL Rahul's marriage into the Shetty family has created one of Indian popular culture's more unusual crossovers — a Test cricketer embedded in a Bollywood dynasty. The 'Best Ajja' caption, in Kannada, is a quiet cultural marker that gets little attention but speaks to how these families negotiate identity across industries and regions. As Evaarah grows up, this blended public profile will only intensify scrutiny on both sides.
NationPress
11 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did KL Rahul call Suniel Shetty 'Best Ajja'?
KL Rahul used the Kannada word 'Ajja', meaning grandfather, to wish his father-in-law Suniel Shetty on his birthday. The term reflects Shetty's role as grandfather to Rahul and Athiya's daughter Evaarah, born on 24 March 2025.
When did KL Rahul and Athiya Shetty get married?
KL Rahul and Athiya Shetty married on 23 January 2023 at Suniel Shetty's farmhouse in Khandala. They had reportedly been dating since 2019.
Which Bollywood celebrities wished Suniel Shetty on his birthday?
Ajay Devgn, Jackie Shroff, Sonu Sood, and Shilpa Shirodkar were among the film personalities who posted birthday wishes for Suniel Shetty on 11 August.
What is Suniel Shetty known for in Bollywood?
Suniel Shetty made his Bollywood debut in 1992 with 'Balwan' and is known for films including 'Mohra', 'Border', 'Dhadkan', 'Hera Pheri', 'Main Hoon Na', and 'Phir Hera Pheri', spanning over three decades in Hindi cinema.
