Actor Jackie Shroff recently joined judges Karisma Kapoor, Jaaved Jaaferi, Geeta Kapur and Terence Lewis during the grand finale episode of the dance reality show India’s Best Dancer Season 5, where he recalled his early days in the film industry and remembered the encouragement he received from late actor-filmmaker Dev Anand.
Taking a trip down memory lane, Jackie expressed gratitude to Dev Anand, who gave him his first opportunity in films, for supporting and encouraging him during the early stages of his career.
Recalling an incident from an action sequence during the shoot of his debut film, Jackie said Dev Anand reassured the crew by telling them, “Take it easy, naya ladka hai,” helping the young actor gain confidence while taking on the challenging sequence.
Jackie Shroff was discovered by Dev Anand after the filmmaker spotted him through a hoarding advertisement during his modelling days.
He made his acting debut with a small appearance in Dev Anand’s Swami Dada in 1982. The film also featured Mithun Chakraborty, Naseeruddin Shah, Christine O’Neil, Padmini Kolhapure and Dev Anand in key roles.
Released on December 3, 1982, the drama featured music by R.D. Burman.
Meanwhile, the grand finale of India’s Best Dancer Season 5 will feature the show’s Top 5 finalists — Prathamesh Mane, Geetanjali Marwaha, Anshika Dhara, Dipali Borkar and Ritesh Pal — as they compete with their performances.
Reflecting on her journey on the show, judge Karisma Kapoor said the season had been special and that she enjoyed watching the contestants grow in confidence, discover their individuality and evolve through their performances.
“Being a part of this season has been truly special. I’ve loved watching these dancers grow in confidence, discover their individuality and evolve with every performance. Each finalist has brought something unique to the stage, and I’m extremely proud of how far they have come,” she said.
Karisma wished all the finalists the best for the finale and hoped they would continue to perform with the same passion and joy.
The grand finale of India’s Best Dancer Season 5 is scheduled to air on Saturday and Sunday, September 26 and 27, on Sony Entertainment Television and stream on Sony LIV.