Veteran Bollywood actor Jackie Shroff once opened up about the emotional story behind his popular nickname, ‘Jaggu Dada’, revealing how his late elder brother’s kindness and selflessness inspired him to follow in his footsteps.
During an appearance on the popular chat show Rendezvous With Simi Garewal, Jackie recalled that, in his view, his elder brother was the real ‘dada’ of the chawl where they grew up.
He described his brother as someone who looked after the community and was always ready to help anyone in need.
Tragedy struck when his brother drowned in the sea while attempting to save another person. As his brother did not know how to swim, Jackie and others tried to throw him a cable to help him get out of the water, but their efforts were unsuccessful.
The loss left a lasting impact on Jackie, who was only 10 years old when he witnessed the heartbreaking incident. His brother’s protective nature and willingness to help others became an inspiration for the actor, who eventually earned the name ‘Jaggu Dada’ himself.
Recalling the painful experience during his conversation with host Simi Garewal, Jackie said, “I saw him drown. I was watching. I was 10 and scared. I didn’t even jump in the sea. I would have gone, too. We tried to throw a line; he caught it, it slipped from this guy’s hand, he struggled for some time, then he (his brother) went with him. So, I have seen the maximum anybody can see. Losing your own brother, who was like your protector, dying in front of your eyes in a sea is horrible.”
Despite achieving fame and success in the film industry, Jackie has remained connected to his roots and continues to visit the chawl where he spent his childhood.
Jackie began his film career with a small role in Dev Anand’s Swami Dada in 1982. He made his debut as a leading actor the following year with Subhash Ghai’s Hero, which helped establish him in Bollywood.
Over the years, he has appeared in several memorable films across genres, including Andar Baahar (1984), Jaanoo (1985), Karma (1986), Ram Lakhan (1989), Tridev (1989), Parinda (1989), Saudagar (1991), Khalnayak (1993), Gardish (1993), 1942: A Love Story (1994), Rangeela (1995), Agni Sakshi (1996), Border (1997), Devdas (2002), Mission Kashmir (2000), Dhoom 3 (2013), Happy New Year (2014), Bharat (2019) and Sooryavanshi (2021).
With a career spanning decades, Jackie continues to be recognised for his distinctive screen presence and his enduring connection with audiences, while the story behind ‘Jaggu Dada’ remains a deeply personal part of his life.