Akshay Kumar planned and paid for a surprise birthday bash in Toronto, Canada for Sunil Shetty, where the two are shooting for Anees Bazmee's Thank You.
Missing family
A source close to Akshay reveals, "It was Sunil's 49th birthday last week and his family wasn't with him.
He looked lost and sad while on the sets. Akshay knows the feeling of not having your loved ones around you on your janamdin.
The two have worked together for 18 years, right from Waqt Hamara Hai to to De Dana Dan. People have spoken of their fights but Akki has never been bothered by or paid heed to such rumours and is actually quite fond of Anna."
The source adds, "He then invited some close friends like Anees, Bobby Deol and a few people from the unit and their close friends, wrote down what Shetty's likes and dislikes in food were. Akki knows Toronto very well and decided to book a table at the best restaurant in town (Blowfish) that served Sunil's fav food (sushi)."
Sunil was caught unawares, "He was asked by Anees to come to Blowfish -- a sushi restaurant to discuss some script changes. When Sunil landed up everyone started wishing him. An emotional Sunil was almost in tears. Akshay had even organised a huge chocolate birthday cake for him too."
That wasn't all. Akshay made all the people at the party (including Bobby) stand up on a table and speak a few lines about Sunil. At the end of it, Sunil was asked to also speak about everyone who was at the party. "It was an extremely emotional moment for everyone."
Sunil says, "It was a very personal thing and I am not comfortable talking about it but suffice it to say I was very touched by Akki's gesture. It was very sweet of him to do something like this and everything had his personal touch."
Akshay tweets
"Having so much fun with the 'Thank You' Guys in Toronto. It was our Big Brother's 49th birthday last night threw a surprise Sushi celebration bash for Suniel Shetty :) the room was full of non-alcoholics, so we forced champagne and shots down each other's necks, stood on chairs (or in my case a wooden wall) and expressed our love and respect for the fittest"