Bollywood actor Suniel Shetty has sparked a fresh debate on social media after revealing that his 15-month-old granddaughter, Evaarah, offers laddus to a photograph of Prime Minister Narendra Modi every morning.
The actor shared the story during a recent podcast interview, where he spoke about his admiration for Modi and recalled a surprising habit of his granddaughter.
Suniel Shetty shares granddaughter’s “cute ritual”
Suniel said his granddaughter, who is the daughter of actress Athiya Shetty and cricketer KL Rahul, developed the habit on her own without any family member encouraging it.
“I have always said I am a big admirer of Modi ji. I am not talking about any political party, but about a leader. Just like I love my country, I have deep love and respect for him,” Suniel said.
He added that the toddler was introduced to Modi’s picture only once by her nanny at an airport.
“You won’t believe it, my granddaughter is just 15 months old. Her nanny once showed her Modi ji’s photo at the airport. Since then, every morning she opens a Sai Baba book where there is a picture of Modi ji and says, ‘Modi ji, Modi ji’,” he said.
‘She offers laddus to Modi’s photo’
Suniel further described how the child picks up imaginary laddus from a Ganpati idol at home and offers them to Modi’s photograph.
“She goes near Ganpati Bappa’s idol, takes a laddu and offers it to Modi ji’s picture. Neither I nor her mother told her to do this. Even the nanny only showed her the photo once,” he said.
The actor called it “magical” and said it reflects the kind of connection people of all ages feel with the Prime Minister.
“There has to be something special in that man. From a 15-month-old child to a 65-year-old person, people admire him,” Suniel said.
Social media reacts with mixed opinions
Soon after the clip went viral, social media users responded with mixed reactions. While many called the story innocent and heartwarming, others criticized the actor for what they saw as excessive praise for the Prime Minister.
Some users questioned the statement, while others accused Suniel of trying to gain political favour. The remarks quickly became a trending topic online.
About Evaarah
Evaarah is the daughter of Athiya Shetty and KL Rahul, who got married in January 2023. The couple welcomed their baby girl in March 2025. Suniel Shetty has often spoken about his close bond with his granddaughter in interviews.
The viral anecdote has once again put the actor in the spotlight, with the internet divided over his emotional remarks about PM Modi.
