Pahalgam Terrorist Attack: Suniel Shetty says his ‘Main Hoon Na’ character Raghavan was a hero

In a surprising turn of events amidst national mourning over the recent Pahalgam terrorist attack—which claimed the lives of 26 innocent tourists—actor Suniel Shetty revisited one of his most controversial roles: Raghavan Dutta from Main Hoon Na.

At the trailer launch of his upcoming film Kesari Veer, Shetty opened up about the depth and misunderstood motivation behind the character, sparking a fresh debate.

Extremist Views:

“Raghavan was not a villain in the traditional sense,” Shetty said. “He was a soldier first—abandoned by the very institution he served when his views became too extreme. His vendetta wasn’t personal greed or megalomania. It was pain, betrayal, and a warped sense of duty.”

In Main Hoon Na, Raghavan is portrayed as a militant ex-Army officer vehemently opposing Project Milaap, a peace initiative between India and Pakistan. His actions were violent and condemnable, but Shetty urges audiences to look deeper. “He feared peace would come at the cost of India’s security. He was wrong, yes. But his fear came from a place of wounded patriotism—not mindless hatred.”

Parallels with Current Kashmir Situation

Drawing parallels with the current situation in Kashmir, Shetty’s remarks take on greater resonance. He emphasized that understanding the psychology of such characters is essential, especially when real-world events reflect similarly complex motivations.

Art imitates life, and sometimes villains are born not out of evil, but disillusionment. In a time of national grief, his words stir a poignant reminder: the line between hero and villain is often drawn in shades of grey.