"My life began with sport and if there is anything I have achieved, I don't know how much I have, but 130 films and 26 years in the industry, if I have managed to stay afloat, it is only because of my passion for fitness," the 54-year-old actor said at the launch of Tata Sky Active Fitness.
The 'Hera Pheri' star said it is only his fitness that gave him a break in the showbiz.
"It is only fitness that got me into the movie business. I owe my life to fitness," he said.
Describing his breakthrough, Shetty said, "someone saw me train the Indo-Tibetan border of police and I was doing a demo for the Maharashtra Police where somebody saw me in that demo and thought I was a good enough fighter and asked me to do a film."
He admitted that he wasn't recognised for his acting skills initially but learnt the ropes during the course of his 26-year long career.
"I began with one but ended up finishing another and people said he is wooden. The film was a success and they couldn't write me off because I was fit as a fiddle and it was that fitness that gave me an opportunity to do the 130 films that I have done and I learnt my acting along the way," he added.
The 'Mohra' actor said he feels happy when people appreciate his fitness level.
"Every time I meet someone, they are amazed with the fitness level that I carry and probably it's because of the age because I am 54 today and I believe I am as fit as a 21-year old. So that gives me immense pleasure when somebody says this," he said.
