Sholay continues to be one of the cult classic films in Bollywood. While lead actors Amitabh Bachchan, Dharmendra and Hema Malini received immense love for their portrayals, the actors who starred as supporting characters, including Asrani and Jagdeep, also received critical acclaim.
Jagdeep, who portrayed Soorma Bhopali is still reminisced for his powerful dialogue “Humara naam Soorma Bhopali aise hi nahi hai,” in Sholay. Do you know the actor had to go through extreme circumstances during his early phase?
The heartbreaking struggles of Jagdeep’s childhood
Born as Syed Ishtiaq Ahmed Jaffrey in Gwalior during the pre-Partition days, Jagdeep’s mother took him to Karachi after his father’s demise. However, they later moved to Mumbai in search of better livelihood. With no family savings, Jagdeep’s mother found a job at a local orphanage as a cook. He too took odd jobs such as selling kites and soap to earn whatever little he could to support his family.
Jagdeep’s first break in films
Jagdeep then got his first break in the industry when someone came looking for kids to cast in B.R. Chopra’s Afsana. He happily took the offer for mere Rs 3. On the set, he discovered that the actor who could speak Urdu would be paid Rs 6, so he eagerly said yes.
From there on, he started getting small roles and collaborated with renowned filmmakers like KA Abbas (Munna), Guru Dutt (Aar Paar), and Bimal Roy (Do Bigha Zamin). He garnered recognition in 1986 with his quirky role in Shammi Kapoor’s Brahmachari, becoming famous for his witty expressions and overall funny persona.
It was until his character of Soorma Bhopali in Sholay rose him to celebratory status. With over 400 films and one of his most remarkable characters, veteran actor Jagdeep’s contribution to the industry is still etched in the hearts of Bollywood fans. His journey from a tough childhood to a becoming a renowned comedian is nothing short of inspirational. The actor breathed his last on July 9, 2020 at the age of 81 at his Mumbai residence.