Jackie Shroff is an Indian actor primarily known for his work in Hindi cinema. Active since the early 1980s, he has appeared in over 200 films across Hindi, Marathi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Bengali and English-language productions. He is widely regarded for his rugged screen presence, distinctive baritone voice and the ability to transition between leading-man roles, character parts and antagonists over a career spanning more than four decades.
| Birth name | Jaikishan Kakubhai Shroff |
|---|---|
| Born | 1 February 1957, Mumbai, Maharashtra |
| Other names | Jackie, Jaggu Dada |
| Occupation | Actor, producer |
| Years active | 1982–present |
| Spouse | Ayesha Dutt (m. 1987) |
| Children | Tiger Shroff, Krishna Shroff |
| Debut film | Swami Dada (1982) |
| Breakthrough | Hero (1983), directed by Subhash Ghai |
| Notable awards | Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor (1995, Rangeela) |
Shroff was born in Mumbai to Kakubhai Haribhai Shroff, a Gujarati astrologer, and Rita, who was of Kazakh-Belarusian descent. He grew up in a chawl in the Teen Batti area of Walkeshwar, South Mumbai, an upbringing he has frequently referenced in interviews. Before entering films, he worked briefly as a travel agent and modelled for print and television advertisements, including a memorable Charminar cigarette campaign that brought him to the attention of filmmakers.
Shroff made his screen debut with a small role in Dev Anand's Swami Dada (1982). His first lead role came in Subhash Ghai's Hero (1983), opposite Meenakshi Sheshadri, which became a major commercial success and established him as a leading man. He followed this with films such as Andar Baahar (1984), Teri Meherbaniyan (1985), Karma (1986), Allah Rakha (1986) and Ram Lakhan (1989), the last reuniting him with Subhash Ghai and Anil Kapoor.
The 1990s were among his most productive years. Notable films included Tridev (1989), Saudagar (1991), Khalnayak (1993), Gardish (1993), 1942: A Love Story (1994), Rangeela (1995) and Border (1997). His role as the gangster Munna in Ram Gopal Varma's Rangeela earned him the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor. Border, directed by J. P. Dutta, gave him the role of Wing Commander Andy Bajwa, based on a real Indian Air Force officer of the 1971 war.
Shroff transitioned increasingly to character roles and antagonists. Films during this period include Mission Kashmir (2000), Yaadein (2001), Devdas (2002), Bhoot (2003) and Apna Sapna Money Money (2006). He also worked in regional cinema, including the Marathi film Sarkarnama and several southern productions, and appeared in international projects such as Bombay Boys (1998).
In later years he featured in Brothers (2015), Housefull 3 (2016), Sooryavanshi (2021) and Bade Miyan Chote Miyan (2024). He played a memorable villainous role as Kaalka in Radhe Shyam (2022) and appeared in Karan Johar's Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani (2023).
Shroff produced films under the banner Jackie Shroff Entertainment Limited, including Boom (2003) and Grandmaster. He has lent his voice to Hindi-dubbed versions of international films and has appeared in television commercials, music videos and reality television.
Shroff married Ayesha Dutt, a former model and producer, in 1987. Their son Tiger Shroff is a Hindi film actor who debuted with Heropanti (2014), and their daughter Krishna Shroff is associated with fitness ventures. Shroff is known publicly for his environmental advocacy, particularly for planting trees and distributing seeds, and for his informal, colloquial speaking style in which he frequently addresses people as "bhidu".
Jackie Shroff is regarded as one of the prominent leading men of Hindi cinema in the 1980s and 1990s, alongside contemporaries such as Anil Kapoor, Sunny Deol and Sanjay Dutt. His longevity in the industry, willingness to take on supporting and negative roles after his lead-actor years, and consistent work across regional industries have made him a recognisable cross-generational presence. His on-screen pairing with Subhash Ghai across multiple films is considered a defining director–actor association of the period.