A typical Mumbaiyah who grew up in a chawl at Walkeshwar, Jai Kishan Kakubhai Shroff has to work a couple of dead-end jobs till he landed an opportunity in Bollywood. The journey of Jai, your next-door mawali to Jackie Shroff aka Jaggu Dada, Bollywood’s 80’s 90’s poster boy changed everything but not the man he is that still endures the country with his tapori lingo.
He was like every other middle-class boy doing ‘shaanpati’ until he was discovered by Subhash Ghai to star in Hero and went on to become one of the most bankable actors in the industry.
As our beloved Jaggu Dada turns 64, here’s our decoded dictionary to his typical Mumbaiyah bole toh.. total Tapori style.
In one of his interviews where he revealed his love for nature and the need to protect trees, he didn’t say it like any other man instead stuck to his style. He said “Bole toh jhaad paan se chipak ke rehne ka kya,” Now you know what to say next time you want to raise environmental awareness but with swag.
One of his most iconic keywords that stuck to the public was Bhidu meaning close friend. In one of his interviews, he addressed Anil Kapoor as his ‘Jigri Bhidu’ . He made Besties or Brothers out of fashion, Bhidu is the coolest way to call your bro.
During one of his interviews, he gave his two cents of motivation in his style and said, "Arey Bawa yeh Depression wagera ki goli khake upar jane ka hai kya, abey haata yaar jab tak hai ek dum mast rehne ka phir apna time ayega toh chale jane ka”
While he molds his accents and personality according to the roles he plays, the real-life Jackie Dada becomes a brand itself. He never changed his chawl ka mawali bawa attitude when he was at the pinnacle of showbiz as well.
Speaking about the ups and downs he faced during his life the chill Bantai said “kiske zindagi mein unch-neech nahi aata hai bhidu?” And the actor has been humble in his own way throughout the decades.
Before there were Gully Boy and desi stars shouting Kya Bol Rahi Public? There was Jackie Shroff wearing a bandana around his head saying Kya Hua Re Shane?