Jackie Shroff, the beloved Jaggu Dada of Indian cinema, opens up about his extraordinary journey from the streets of South Bombay to becoming one of Bollywood’s most iconic stars on In The Ring with Filmfare. In a warm and candid conversation with Filmfare’s Editor-in-Chief Jitesh Pillai, Jackie talks about growing up around politicians, kitchen staff, and drivers, the tragedy of losing his brother at a young age, and how his simple upbringing has shaped his profound empathy and street-smart charm.
Growing up in South Bombay, Jackie was surrounded by people from all walks of society— It’s this blend of experiences that shaped the man he is today. Discovered by chance, Jackie rose to fame with Subhash Ghai’s Hero, followed by hits like Ram Lakhan, Karma, and Parinda. Despite criticism, he remained unfazed, valuing experience over fame. With his unique blend of humility, passion, and emotional depth, Jackie Shroff remains a true original.
Bollywood Retro Gems - Outstanding Bollywood movies
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| Dharmendra, Hema Malini & Sanjeev Kumar in Seeta Aur Geeta (1972) |
Jackie Shroff recalls growing up in the vibrant lanes of South Bombay, “There is no level in me, I think I am just a human being. I lived a very casual life in South Bombay, surrounded by all the drivers, all the CMs, and all. There, all the rich kids and politicians used to play cricket, and I used to be in the house. We used to see the back office, also, and the front office too. The kitchen guy—he was my buddy. I got to know all kinds of human lives and people.”
He also opened up about the first loss in his life: “When I was 10, my brother passed away. It shook me up. Watching something like that scattered my heart. There was panic. That was the lesson—that no one is immortal in this world. He used to come and pick me up from school. He was everything to me.”
Reflecting on his breakthrough into Bollywood, Jackie shares a laugh about his unintentional first taste of fame, “In the movie Hero, Subhash ji’s eyes and emotions were a buzz for me. I had no idea what gets shown in films. I was no one. That was my first publicity—my backside photo was there on a poster. My friends were excited and said, “Jackie, your photo is there!” I was like, “Why not the front side?” Then, after a few days, my close-up shots were out. People started noticing me.”
When it comes to criticism, Jackie has always remained grounded. “That’s their job, I can’t do anything,” he says calmly, “I can’t say anything to any critic. They used to dig me up. They’ve written all the negative things about me. I believe that was their choice, their job. I can't do anything about it. Subhash ji made me. He gave me films like Ram Lakhan, Karma, Yaadein, and Hero. That was my turning point.”
Speaking about his camaraderie with co-stars, Jackie fondly recalls his close bond with Danny Denzongpa, Dimple Kapadia, Amrita Singh, and others, “Danny sahab, Dimple ji, Dimpi, Amrita—they were my close co-stars. There were many. We loved to drink, we cooked, we planted. I learned a lot from them. We used to sing. Danny and I—we had the same mindset.”
Talking about his directors, Jackie describes, “Mahesh Bhatt as someone driven purely by emotion, Bhatt sahab is all about passion. He used to say, ‘Feel chahiye.’ We made Kaash just out of that word. He is very passionate. His work is always number one.”
Opening up about his personal life, Jackie shares glimpses of his carefree, romantic days with Ayesha, “I used to write notes to Ayesha, make hearts, take my mom’s powder, go to the barber shop, and take powder for all the ladies. I used to get dressed for films, eat, walk around a lot, and dance the whole night. All those things are missing now. Nothing’s happening. I miss all that—going to art galleries, hanging out, going to the Gateway of India, and taking the last boat to Elephanta Caves. Matheran is my favorite place—I used to go horse riding there. Yes, I’m a responsible husband. I’ve become very responsible. Health-wise, I’ve become like a grandmother.”
In true Jackie style, when asked about relationships, he offers his signature wisdom: “I always say, men have the last word, that is SORRY. Respect women—don’t try to win a fight with them. They’re like atom bombs—just don’t go down to that level."
