Many actors come and go in Hindi cinema. It is said about this industry that not everyone’s success works here, but the one who works… becomes dominant. But, there are many such faces in this crowd who have a different identity. He is known more for his different style and wonderful personality than his films. There are many such names like Govinda, Kader Khan, Sunil Shetty. Today we are going to tell you the story of one such actor whom everyone knows for his unique personality. Starting from a chawl in Mumbai, this actor worked not only in Hindi but in about 14 different languages and that too on his own terms. We are talking about actor Jackie Shroff, fondly called Jaggu Dada.
Jackie is known more for his words and unusual style than for his films. Once upon a time, Jackie also used to come in the category of most handsome man. For many years, Jackie has not given any big hit movie in which he was seen as a lead actor, but still Jaggu Dada is still doing films on the strength of his courage to never give up and is relevant in the industry. Jackie will soon be seen in Varun Dhawan’s much awaited film Baby John, so let us tell you how Jaggu Dada, who used to work in a chawl in Mumbai, traveled to become Jackie Shroff.
Jackie Dada never forgets his roots
Today Jackie Shroff may be counted among the big stars of Bollywood, but he never forgets his roots. People who know Jackie closely say that Jackie has a very strange habit that he is not able to say ‘no’. Jackie sometimes used to sell peanuts outside the theatre. Sometimes he used to paste movie posters also. Jaggu Dada himself had mentioned this in an interview after collecting the firecrackers burst on the streets during Diwali and bursting them with his friends the next day.
Jackie’s full name was Jaikishan Shroff. Jackie lived with his parents and elder brother in Teen Batti Chawl. Jackie or then Jaikishan’s father’s name was Kakubhai Shroff, who was also an astrologer. Whereas mother Rita was a resident of Kazakhstan. It is said that Jackie’s mother had fled from Kazakhstan to Lahore many years ago when there was a coup there. Jackie’s family was a victim of financial crisis. His household was run by his father’s astrology knowledge. Jackie also had an elder brother who died at the age of 17.
Brother’s death changed life
A big motivation in Jackie’s life was his brother Hemant. During a conversation in an interview, Jackie had told about the accident when his brother Hemant was drowning in water, he just stood there and could not even find his feet. Jackie’s life changed after the death of his brother. Jackie, who lived a carefree life, now wanted to become a responsible son. To help his family, he would sometimes sell peanuts and sometimes stick posters of any film outside the theater when it was released. The money he earned from this work would help him run the household. How severe the shortage of money was, can be gauged from the fact that Jackie Shroff’s mother had to sell sarees and utensils to get her through her 10th class.
After supporting the house, Jackie Shroff started working in a travel agency. During this time, one day when he was standing at the bus stand, someone asked him to get photographed. Also said that they will get money for this. Jackie agreed to get the money and got the photoshoot done. Later it was found out that those photos were taken by an advertising agency, and that’s how Jackie started modeling. This is how Jackie Shroff started. When Jackie realized that there was more earning in this work, he stopped working in the travel agency. Meanwhile, he became friends with Dev Anand’s son Sunil Anand.
The film which made grandfather a ‘hero’
Sunil brought a big turn in Jackie’s life. Sunil introduced Jackie to Devanand. Jackie had told in an interview that Dev Saheb told him that he would sign him as a second lead in the film, however later that role was given to Mithun Chakraborty and Jackie got only a side role, but he lost. Didn’t agree and kept working. Due to his habit of not refusing anyone, he used to do whatever film he got. After this Jackie did the film which made him a ‘hero’.
More than 220 films in 14 languages
Famous director Subhash Ghai cast Jackie Shroff in the lead role in the film ‘Hero’. This film gave everything to Jackie overnight. Name-fame, money… Jackie got everything. Since then Jackie Shroff never looked back. In his career spanning over four decades, Jackie Shroff has done more than 220 films in 14 languages and is still doing so. Those who know Jackie say that despite getting films and becoming a well-known name, Jackie stayed in the same chawl for many years and big directors used to come there to narrate him.