Meet Mana Kadri, Suniel Shetty's Wife, Business Mogul, Nine Years Of Wait For Interfaith Marriage

Even before entering the entertainment industry, Suniel was a married man. He had tied the knot with Mana Kadri in 1991, despite many people warning him that it would be detrimental to his image as a new Bollywood hero. Moreover, due to their different religious backgrounds, both of their families were opposed to their marriage, especially Suniel's parents. However, they overcame all the objections and have been together ever since. Here's everything to know about Mana Kadri, Suniel's first and forever love. 

Mana Kadri belongs to an interfaith and intercultural family 

Mana and Suniel Shetty's intercultural marriage has garnered a lot of headlines, with the actor often retelling how his parents were against the marriage. However, it's a lesser-known fact that Mana herself belongs to a multi-faith family. Her father is Iftikhar M. Kadri, a Gujarati Muslim and an architect. Meanwhile, her mother is Vipula Kadri, a social activist and a Punjabi Hindu. She has two siblings, Isha and Rahul Kadri, who are social activists and architects, respectively. 

So, Mana is a blend of two religions and cultures. Meanwhile, Suniel Shetty is a Kannadiga Hindu and belongs to a Tulu-speaking family. Interestingly, this means that after their marriage, the Shetty household became an amazing blend of North, West and South of India. 

Mana Kadri is a smart businesswoman 

Mana Kadri was business-savvy since she was only fifteen years old. Partnering with her sister, Isha Kadri (now Mehra), she started her own private clothing line under the brand, Mana and Isha. Hence, since her teenage years, she had established herself as a fashion designer. She also has another clothing line called, With Love Mana. Apart from fashion, Mana is also the owner of R-House, a luxury lifestyle store in Mumbai. 

Apart from being life partners, Suniel and Mana are also business partners. They both founded S2 Realty Developers, and the businesswoman oversees their company as the director. This real estate venture has proven to be very successful for the couple, under which they have developed luxurious villas furnished with lavish decor. 

Mana Kadri's social activism 

Everyone is aware of Suniel Shetty's philanthropic nature. Reports about Suniel saving more than 450 s*x workers from the clutches of human traffickers in 1996 came to light, recently. The actor was lauded for this heroic act and not publicising it. However, what many people don't know is that he was aided by his mother-in-law, Vipula Kadri, in saving the girls. She is the founder of the very renowned NGO, Save the Children. Following in her mother's footsteps, Mana is also a huge part of this organisation. 

Mana Kadri and her sister, Isha Kadri, are reportedly actively involved in social activism and work extensively for the Save the Children NGO. As part of the NGO, Mana helps organise fundraisers and curates exhibitions to contribute towards the NGO's goals of mobilising and uplifting underprivileged and exploited children and women. 

Mana Kadri's family life with Suniel Shetty 

After tying the knot with Suniel Shetty in 1991, the two welcomed their daughter, Athiya Shetty, on November 5, 1992. Their once little girl is now married to Indian cricketer K.L. Rahul. And in March 2025, Athiya promoted her parents to proud grandparents by giving birth to a baby girl named Evaarah. Mana and Suniel also have a son, Ahan Shetty, who made his Bollywood debut with the 2021 film, Tadap. He will also be seen in Border 2. Athiya, on the other hand, has taken a permanent sabbatical from the film industry after embracing motherhood. 

More about Mana Kadri and Suniel Shetty's love story 

Suniel Shetty, it seems, is in love with Mana as much as he was when he saw her for the very first time. The actor first met her at the Pastry Palace and fell instantly in love with her beauty at first glance. Then, after a few more meetings and a bike ride, they realised their feelings for each other and confessed. In The Ranveer Show, Suniel recalled that he fell in love with Mana at first glance and said:

“I fell in love with her the minute I saw her. But I used to be called the gunda because I used to have a bike, long hair, and that physique, and women around me all the time.”

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Kadri and Suniel Shetty's nine-year wait for their marriage 

After dating for a while, Mana and Suniel revealed their relationship to their respective families. The former's family loved Suniel from the very beginning, especially Mana's mother. However, the actor's family had a hard time supporting their relationship due to their different religious backgrounds. They waited nine years to obtain the blessings of both their families before getting married. In 1991, Suniel Shetty signed his first Bollywood film and decided to tie the knot with Mana in the same year. Talking about his parents opposing the marriage, Suniel said in an interview with Pinvilla:

“Mere maa baap clear thay ki shaadi hone waali nahi hai, aap shaadi kar nahi sakte. Her community was different. But she never thought that way. She always told me, ‘I’ll always be there for you as long as you want me to be part of your life.’ How can I forget that?”

Suniel Shetty further said that when he and Mana got married, it was a commitment to stay tied together in each and every lifetime. Then he further expressed that once he grew older, he realised how much balance a good wife brings into life and how much that affects the children's upbringing. In the same interview, he was quoted as saying:

“Jab humari shaadi hui thi, tab shaadi ek commitment thi. Saat pheron le lete the, aur yeh decided tha ki saath janmon tak saath rahenge. Filmy dialogue lag raha hoga, par aisa hai nahi, yeh sachai hai. When you age, you realise how much of a balance a good wife brings into your life, in your children’s upbringing. And you see that in your children."

What are your thoughts on Mana Kadri's love story with Suniel Shetty and her ventures as a smart businesswoman? 

Also Read: Suniel Shetty Reacts To Paresh Rawal's Return As 'Baburao' Post 'Hera Pheri 3' Row, 'Maine Bhi..'

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