JAGGU DADA KA GAJAB KA JAADU KAUN ROK SAKTA HAI ?.... By Ali peter John

Some thirty years ago he was known as “Jaggu Dada Teen Battiwala”. He was a modern day Robin Hood who specialized in going out to get into trouble to get others out of trouble - Ali Peter John

They called him “Dada” because that was what men who created trouble in their area, got into gang fights and were feared by the peace-loving people were known as.

There were no “Bhais” those days. He together with his elder brother, Hemant ruled their area Teen Batti in Central Mumbai very close to the Raj Bhavan, the Governor’s house.

There was not a single day when either Hemant or Jaggu Dada were not involved in some fracas, fight all what they called “lafada” (trouble).

Their names were “popular” amongst the local police station and the police station had their names on its list of trouble – makers.

Women and young girls refused to move out of their homes after sunsets because that was the time when Jaggu Dada, always dressed in black, with black boots and a black ‘patta’ (band or bandana) around his head was on the prowl with his ‘boys’.

But there was no case or story of either Hemant or Jaggu Dada harassing or ill – treating women.

They always treated women with great respect. They also treated ‘Gentleman log’ with the same respect.

They were only for those who were bad and who did all kinds of wrongs. The wrong – doers were handled so badly that they never crossed the path of the brother and never dared to come any where even near Teen Batti.

This ‘raj (reign) of Hemant and Jaggu Dada continued till one day Hemant was found killed.

He was a victim of some serious rivalry or that is how the story goes. Hemant’s gruesome killing could have had Jaggu Dada go on revenge – seeking spree but surprisingly, it had the reverse effect on him.

After days of serious contemplation he decided to change his way of life. He wanted to be a normal peace-loving man.

He decided do something and be someone in life and fortunately his past never came in his way again.

Jaggu Dada was a transformed man, a Valmiki of our times. He was Jaikishan Shroff, a son of a Gujarati astrologer father and a Nepali mother who loved her son Jaggu for whatever he was.

The new – born Jaikishan was a dashing and handsome man who was a the hero of every young woman in the area, some of who were even secretly madly in loves with him but Jackie fell in love with Ayesha, a ‘high society ki ladki, who reciprocate his love and their love story took the entire neighbourhood by surprise.

Jaikishan now wanted a job desperately, some job, any job to make a respectable living.

He had no great qualification to be proud of, “mushkil se SSC pass kiya tha”. It was some of his friends and well wishers together with Ayesha who was a leading model who asked him to try modeling.

He got a photo session and then with friends like Suhas Khandke who was also a leading model he made the rounds of all the leading modeling agencies in the city, met modeling coordinator and left his photographs with them and soon enough the offers kept coming in and he was ranked among the leading models doing some major ad campaigns.

Charminar cigarettes were one of the products he model for. The banner with his full handsome figure showing him at his best caught the eye of Dev Anand.

He was impressed by him; he found him, met him and offered him a leading role in his film, “Swami Dada”.

Jaikishan who was now called Jackie Shroff jumped with joy. He was a great admirer of Dev Anand who he even tried to imitate in his way of blessing and his manner of speaking.

Dev Sahab liked him but the role he was offered was also wanted by Mithun Chakraborty who was more popular and also saleable.

Dev Sahab had accepted Mithun offer because he was also willing to work free for him.

Dev Sahab told Jackie about his problem but Jackie was not disheartened. He was just happy meeting and sending time with his childhood hero.

Dev Sahab however did not have the heart to break Jackie’s heart and offered him a brief role in the film which Jackie accepted gladly because he just wanted to be the hero. Little did he no what wonders that brief scene in ‘Swami Dada’ was to do for him.

Subhash Ghai was planning a new film called ‘Hero’. He approached all the star-sons who were ruling them who quoted prices he could not afford he was just launching Mukta Arts, his own production company.

He took a bold decision to cast new comers in his film. He happened to see Jackie in that brief seen in ‘Swami Dada’ and found him to be hero material.

He found him and then groomed him to be what a hero should be and launched him as his hero in his film, ‘Hero’, Meenakshi Sheshadri, a one time hurt heroine was rediscovered by Ghai and cast as Jackie’s heroine Jackie worked very hard.

He realized how tough it was to be an actor in films. There were several times when he felt like giving up and running away but Ghai calmed him down and gave him the courage and the confidence to stay on – and conquer.

The film was released and was what they call a super-duper hit in the business and Jackie was accepted as a hero in real life too. The film and its great success took Jackie to unbelievable heights of success.

Jackie knew he was in competition with all the star-son and al the other young heroes of the times. He was not in a mood to give-up now.

He was not going to yield to despair but fight all the obstacles in his way and emerge a winner and that was what he turned out to be, a winner all the way.

He was known the most popular the most wanted and a highly paid star. He soon moved out of his ‘kholi’, his one room tenement and shifted into a sprawling apartment facing the sea and was a neighbor of his mentor, Subhash Ghai.

The amazing success story of Jackie Shroff which started in 1983 on shaky grounds will complete 25 years this year and what a glorious innings is has been.

Jackie has never been talked about as a great actor. He himself has never considered himself a great actor.

The learned critics have never accepted as a great actor. But Jackie has proved that he can be very good when he has worked with director like his mentor Subhash Ghai, Vidhu Vinod Chopra, J. P. Dutta and Priyadarshan, all of them directors who had the ability get the best out of him.

Jackie has worked in more than hundred and fifty films in the thirty years. The big surprise in recent times has been his being a part of ‘Dhoom 3’ in which he is playing a very different kind of role about which no one in the unit and not Jackie certainly wants to say anything about.

He has been successful all the time and the reason for his success are his good behavior, his discipline, his understanding the problems of his producers, his knowing of his own strengths and weakness and his spreading love and goodwill among everyone, from the spot boy to the producer.

At one stage Jackie and Ayesha started a production company and launched their own banner but they soon realized that production was not for them.

Jackie is still a popular actor (he is game to play every kinds of character, like he played the villain in Ram Gopal Varma 's disaster of a film, "Sarkaar 3") but he is sensible enough to know that he can not be the same hero as he was and that he can not be another Amitabh Bachchan or Anil Kapoor who has the talent which he respects.

He is aware that he has to change with the changing time.And Jackie who played the hero is now even willing to play Satya Sai Baba.

He has the humility to accept the position he is placed in today and is now even willing to play the father of the hero or the heroine.

Humility is the second name of Jackie Shroff, humility which is his greatest strength which will guide him and lead him to places of respect, something which he richly deserves for all that he has done.

How history will treat him and what place it will give him is not what he is worried about. All he knows is the present and what best he can do in his life now and in the years to come.

More about Jackie Shroff

1. Jackie’s father who was a small - time astrologer was sure that his son would make it big one day but he could never think of his becoming a film star.

Jackie was very close to his mother who kept praying for him to change become a good man and what a way her prayers have been heard.

Jackie believes his life change because of his mother’s constant prayers and blessings.

2. If there is one think Jackie is best known for it is his sheer goodness, his large – heartedness and his kindness.

There was a time when he had a team working with him, headed by a trusted man called David who found all kinds of deserving cases and brought them to Jackie who went all out to help.

He was known as a ‘One man Dharamshala’ and he gave till it hurt but he never complained.

Till a time came when he realized that he was being taken for a ride. People took advantage of his goodness and cheated him.

Till a time came when he could take it no longer and he decided to do what ever he wanted all by himself or together with Ayesha.

The number of people he has helped, the sick, the needy and the downtrodden are countless.

3. Jackie has never forgotten his roots. His still the simple and ‘innocent’ (a word commonly used to subscribed) man with all the good values he learned about life intact.

He is so attached to the good old days and friends that he has still kept his ‘kholi’ under lock and key and visit whenever he has the time.

4. He has a huge apartment, Il Palazo in Bandra but he has his own favorite corner where he spends his spare time in a ‘lungi kurta’.

5. Jackie has always had a fascination for all kinds of car. He once only dreamed about having them.

He now has a fleet of car of all brands and shapes and sizes, from vintage car to the latest model.

He refuses to part with them at any cost. He knows every thing about car and his a master mechanic like one of his friends who shares his fashion for car.

He has his son, Hemant (named after his brother, Hemant) at the steering wheel of a car when he was just for.

He has made friends with maharajas and millionaires only because they have the best car.

6. Jackie is a very grateful man who never forgets the favour people have done for him. He treats men like Dev Anand and Subhash Ghai like gods on earth.

7. He has never claimed to be a great actor, not even a good actor. “apun ko kahan acting aati hain?

Acting karne wale to bade bade baap baithe hain, kuch hamse umar mein kam bhi. Apun to bus taqdeer se band gayela actor hai. Upar wale ki maherbani hai” he says.

8. Jackie and Anil Kapoor have a unique record of doing twelve films together and he has always called Anil ‘mere baap’.

9. Jackie finds it very difficult to do emotional scene before the camera even though he is a highly emotional man in real life.

There has been time when he has given sixty takes before his shot has been okayed but he has learned and improved from these experiences.

10. Jackie is a student of life who has learned everything from his experiences. Of late he has taken to the internet with all sincerity and is at it to gather all the news of the world and to know latest development in every field of life. He is forever keen to share his knowledge with others.

11. Jackie tries his best to keep away from public function and even if he does he stands quietly in a corner or in the last row and it is very difficult to bring him into the limelight he has never being the chief guest at any function but is very comfortable attending function, weddings and birthdays of the poor in their chawls and slums.

12.  Jackie has never taken part in any of the shows held in the country or any were in the world.

There have been times when he has needed money very badly but two things he has never thought of parting with, his car and his decision not to take part in shows, whatever the temptation.

Jackie Shroff during the 2nd INDIA ALIVE SHORT FILM FESTIVAL

13. Jackie has always been helpful to all his producers. There are cases where he has done films free, cut down his price and even forgotten the money producers have to pay him.

14. Jackie loves children his own children, Hemant and daughter Krishna are a part of his heart. He treats all children with the same share and concern.

15. He goes out of his way to help children who are leaving in bad conditions and helps them in whatever way he can.

16. He was considered the most handsome young man at one time and still is, not only in India but even in places like America, Great Britain, a far away place like Egypt and even Saudi Arabia where Indian films are banned and his more popular among of the country.

Jackie Shroff

17. Jackie is very kind and helpful and even protective towards new comer. He gives them tips on how to conduct their lives and career.

He even introduces them to film makers who get them the work a keep looking for.

18. Jackie has the rare ability to be in the company of the rich and the famous but is always more comfortable in the company of the common man.

19. Jackie has always kept away from politics. He has some of his best friends in different political parties but he keeps away from all their politics and their politricks.

20. Jackie is a man who has no ambitions of making it to the pages of history or to be remembered by future generations.

He believes in living for the present. Jeeyo aur jeene do, zindagi bahot khubsoorat hai, ek hi zindagi hai, khub jeeyo aur sabki zindagi khubsoorat banane ki koshish karo.

21. Jackie on his completing twenty five years and his future - Uparwale ne abhi tak haath pakad kar chalaya hai , wohi shakti hai, wohi sharan hai, wohi sahara hai, taranhara hai, wohi karega jo karna hai.