This actor has always been open about his struggles in his early years, and his story continues to motivate many of us.
Jackie Shroff’s journey from growing up in a small chawl for over three decades to becoming a fashion icon and a celebrated actor is truly inspiring.
He has always been open about the struggles he faced in his early years, and his story continues to motivate many of us. Jackie Shroff, originally named Jaikishan Kakubhai Shroff, was born on February 1, 1957, in Bombay (now Mumbai).
Early life:
His father was Gujarati, while his mother, a Turkmen, had fled Kazakhstan during a political upheaval. His father, once from a wealthy family, faced financial struggles after losing money in the stock market. Jackie grew up in the Teen Batti neighborhood of Mumbai and decided to drop out of school after the 11th grade.
Lived in chawl
Before becoming a Bollywood superstar, Jackie Shroff lived with his family in a modest Mumbai chawl. In an interview with Ranveer Allahbadia, he reflected on the challenging days of his early life and the hardships he faced during that time.
He stated, “I remember those years when I would stand outside Chawl’s bathroom with my mug. There were seven small buildings and we had a total of three bathrooms for all the people of those buildings. There would be a line outside the toilet every morning because people would be in a hurry to go to work. This memory is still so fresh in my mind… that sometimes I still see myself standing in that line in my dreams.”
Saw his brother dying
Jackie Shroff experienced a heartbreaking loss in his family when his older brother tragically passed away at a young age. In an interview, Jackie opened up about the painful memory of seeing his teenage brother drown while trying to save a friend. This traumatic incident has stayed with him over the years, leaving a deep emotional impact on the renowned actor.
He said with Lehren Retro, “I saw my daddy go, I saw my brother go. I’ve seen it with my eyes, and my mother…”He added, “I was there, I was 10 years old. I saw it.” He mentioned, “That’s trauma, it’s inside. It has to be, I don’t know where it is. I don’t want to dig it out. It’s the good memories that last longer with me. I know it’s a tragic thing, but a lot of people go through tragedy, it’s normal…”
He added, “For friends, he was all out. We’ve learned the same thing, we can burn our house to give warmth to someone else… He was 17, I was 10. He did a lot of good things. He gave his life for a friend, which is huge.”
From selling peanuts to owning an 8-BHK bungalow
In his early years, Jackie Shroff would sell peanuts outside movie theaters to help support his family. Over his impressive career spanning more than 40 years, he has starred in over 220 films across 13 different languages. Today, Jackie enjoys a life of luxury, with a spacious 8-bedroom home and a collection of high-end cars, including a BMW and a Mercedes.
