Jackie Shroff’s Bollywood destiny was apparently written in the stars. During the finale shoot of India’s Best Dancer 5, the actor recalled how his astrologer father predicted that he would find his calling in the film industry, even before he had considered acting as a career.
After completing Grade 11, Shroff was ready to take up a job. But his father had other plans. “My father didn’t speak much. He was focused on his work, and he had some good clients. He predicted my future as well. He told me, ‘Son, you will become an actor.’ And his astrological prediction turned out accurate in my case,” shared Shroff.
Given the dance reality show setting, the actor also recalled his first dance sequence was for the title track of Hero (1983), Apni Taqdeer Toh Hero Hai, informed a source. With no formal dance training, Shroff often found himself caught between conflicting instructions from director Subhash Ghai and late choreographer Saroj Khan. “The camera was behind me, and there were 12 reflectors shining on my face. I couldn’t keep my eyes open. So Sarojji would always say, ‘Hey, open your eyes’, while Subhashji would say, ‘Don’t open them’. So while trying to balance between the two, I would move my head, and then Sarojji would say, ‘Hey, Dev Saab’s sixth child, don’t move your head.’ Then Subhashji would say, ‘Move it’,” reminisced the actor.
Shroff admitted that his lack of dance training worked in his favour, as his co-star Meenakshi Seshadri, a trained dancer, carried the song with ease, allowing him to simply play the character.
Shroff and Seshadri’s films together
‘Hero’ (1983)
‘Hero’ (1983)
‘Paisa Yeh Paisa’ (1985)
‘Mera Jawab’ (1985)
‘Dahleez’ (1986)
‘Allah Rakha’ (1986)
‘Akayla’ (1991)