Jackie Shroff: “I Am Not  Joining the  BJP”

Ever  since Jackie Shroff was seen in the company  of  Maharashtra’s former chief minister  Devendra  Phadnis’  wife on April  11, the  hot topic  of  discussion is  Jackie’s  induction  into the  BJP.

So is  he, or isn’t he?

“No no no,” responds Jackie emphatically. “I am not  joining any political party. I had  gone for the Maharojgar Melava  which is  an organization devoted to the welfare  of film and television artistes. A  film-industry co-ordinator who  often invites me for events  such as  these , asked me to come and show my support. I readily  agreed. Why not? These  ground-level artistes  from cinema  and television  have suffered  so much during the  two years  of the pandemic. Unke paas  khaane  ke liye paise nahin hain(they  don’t have  money  for  food). Their savings have dried  up. Their families are suffering. The  children have stopped school.They need  to get back on  their feet.The  entire film industry needs to support them.”

Jackie  has always been a people’s person. “You  ask me to come to  any function in support of  the  underprivileged,  I will happily be there.  But no politics  for me. I can’t handle that at all.”

Jackie’s  date diary is  choc-a-block with  projects.

“The  digital   platform has  erupted  bigtime. There is no stopping it. Every  actor who wants to work  is now  in a position  to do so  . There is  no  end to what talented actors can do on this  medium.  Me? I  am happy doing the work  that  I am doing.At this stage  of my career  I don’t need  to  do  projects  just for the sake   of working. I would be   happy to just watch  my son working while I take it  easy,” says Jackie.

Jackie is  currently  busy with multiple films and OTT content His son Tiger Shroff’s  film Heropanti 2 is  on  release.Jackie is excited as hell. “I hope it  will be  another  success for my boy. Tiger  is far more focused and hardworking than I had ever been at his age. His action  and dancing are mindblowing.  My wife Ayesha and  I  are very proud  of Tiger. All credit for his  upbringing must go to his mother  and   grandmother.  Whatever he has  achieved is  on his own. Like his father he is a  self made man.”

Jackie  is ready with  Atitho Bhoot Bhava  which he   in Mathura  with Pratik Gandhi,  and Ahmed  Khan’s Om with Aditya Roy Kapur.

“Like I said, I am working not only because  I love to work but because  the  roles excite me,” signs  off Jackie.