Bollywood Celebrity / When Jackie Shroff Revealed the Story Behind Becoming ‘Jaggu Dada’

Mumbai, Oct 17: Veteran actor Jackie Shroff, known affectionately as ‘Jaggu Dada’ across the film industry and among fans, once shared the deeply personal story behind the nickname, tracing it back to the profound influence and tragic loss of his elder brother.

The actor recalled that it was his brother’s compassion, courage and commitment to helping others that inspired him to carry forward the legacy and eventually earn the title himself.

While appearing on the popular chat show Rendezvous With Simi Garewal, Jackie admitted that, in his view, his elder brother was the real ‘dada’ of the chawl where they grew up.

He remembered his brother as a caretaker of the community, someone who would always step forward whenever people needed support or assistance.

However, tragedy struck when his brother drowned in the sea while attempting to save another person. Although Jackie tried to help by throwing him a cable, the rescue effort proved unsuccessful.

His brother's selflessness left a lasting impact on him, ultimately inspiring him to follow the same path of helping others and becoming known as ‘Jaggu Dada’.
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Opening up to 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.”

Even after decades, Jackie continues to visit the chawl where he spent his childhood, maintaining a connection with his roots and the memories of his family.

Journey in Cinema

Jackie Shroff made his first on-screen appearance in 1982 with a minor role in Dev Anand’s Swami Dada. His breakthrough came a year later when Subhash Ghai cast him as the lead in Hero (1983), a film that catapulted him to stardom.

Over the years, he delivered memorable performances in films such as 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), Mission Kashmir (2000), Devdas (2002), Dhoom 3 (2013), Happy New Year (2014), Bharat (2019) and Sooryavanshi (2021).
(IANS)