Jackie shroff | The actor who is known for his films like Swami Dada, Hero and Ram Lakhan was last seen in Radhe, making its channel premiere on Zee Cinema on September 5. He speaks with Shalini Saksena about how much fun he had during the shooting among other things
How was your experience shooting for Radhe?
It was so much fun. When there are people like Prabhu Deva who dance, choreograph, direct and act, there is bound to be fun on the sets. I had a blast. Working with him is always fun. I learnt a lot during the shooting. I was also doing a comedy film after a long time. Doing it after a gap is always a pleasure. There was so much learning involved; if I enjoyed it, the rest had to have fun as well.
What made you say yes to the role?
There were a couple of reasons for doing this project. First, like I mentioned, I got the chance to do a comedy after a very long time. Second, it was a project directed by Prabhu Deva. Also, Salman (Khan) always wants to cast me in his films. There are so many things that come into play when you agree to do a project — it has a great production house (Zee Studios Salman Khan Films Sohail Khan Productions Reel Life Production Private Limited) as well.
What is your upcoming movie The Interview: Night of 26/11 about?
The film is about a veteran correspondent who covers war stories. He likes to cover stories about war soldiers. He doesn’t like to cover stars. But suddenly he is forced to interview/cover a star. When he goes to interview the celebrity — a super star — how the interview turns out to be an intrigue, is what the movie is about. It is a film that spans one night.
What made you say yes to this movie?
The movie is a remake of a Dutch film, The Interview. It has been directed by Laurens C Postma. He has casted a brilliant actor Malcolm McDowell, McDowell’s movie Exitz was directed by Postm. When he can cast such a great actor like McDowell, there was no way that I was going to turn this project down when he came to me with the story. And it is such a great story — sirf ek raat ki.
Did you think that movie Hero would remain a cult among the fans even now?
When you are doing your debut movie, you don’t think of anything but the project that you have in hand. You don’t know whether the movie will be a hit or not. I only knew one thing — this movie made me a hero. It lifted me literally from the street and made me a star overnight. I never knew that this film would still be remembered 37-38 years down the line. I just know that Hero made me a hero. How can one think of such things when you are just a newcomer in the industry?
Why doesn’t Bollywood make movies like Hero anymore?
It is not as if people don’t make these kind of films anymore. There are a few people in the industry who do so. It is not possible to make a film on the same topic time and again. One needs variety otherwise people will get bored. Take an example: It is not possible to eat daal-chawal every day. We need variety in food. Similarly, there is a need for movies on different topics. People back then liked to watch a certain genre of films and that has continued even today. It is difficult for them to get that out of their mind.
Is there any role you said yes to but later hated?
I have risen from the streets and come to this industry. I have a lower middle-class mindset. There has never been a time when I felt the need to turn down a character. I took up whatever came my way as will of God.
Do you think cinema would be limited to only OTT platforms now?
People had a similar thought when TV came. When OTT came, people said the same thing. Chadar par dekhna alag baat hai, rumaal par alag baat hai. There is a difference in watching a movie on a 70 mm screen. To see it on the small screen is a different experience).
What are your upcoming projects?
Besides The Interview: The Night of 26/11, I have four more projects that are slated to release. These are: Atithi Bhooto Bhava that has been directed by Hardik Gajjar, Sooryavanshi which has been directed by Rohit Shetty and Phone Bhoot directed by Gurmmeet Singh. These three films are there. And then there is Om that I am working on. In all four upcoming films.