Jackie Shroff Recalls LOSING His Debut Lead Role To Mithun, 'Shakti Kapoor Ka Chamcha Ban Gaya Main'

Jackie Shroff, fondly known as ‘Jaggu Dada’, has been a beloved presence in Bollywood for over four decades, winning hearts with his charm and versatility. He made his breakthrough with Subhash Ghai’s Hero in 1983 and has since acted in more than 250 films across 13 languages. Now 68, the veteran star recently revealed a lesser-known chapter from his early days, when he debuted in Dev Anand’s 1982 film, Swami Dada, a story that marked his true entry into the world of cinema.

Jackie Shroff shares how he got demoted from second lead to third villain in Dev Anand's Swami Dada within 15 days

Jackie Shroff recently appeared on actress Kunickaa Sadanand’s podcast, where he shared a lesser-known anecdote from his acting career, when he lost out on a lead role after being selected for it. Jackie revealed that he was initially offered the second lead role in Swami Dada opposite Dev Anand himself, and he was excited to break the news to his mother. He shared:

“It so happened that he offered me the second lead. I couldn’t believe my eyes, my ears that Dev sahab was sitting in front of me. His son, Sunil, was also there. He told me, ‘He’s (his father) is offering a film. I said, ‘Wow!’ I went home and told my mother I was getting the second lead. The whole society went like, ‘Woohoo, Jaggu hero!'”

The celebration, however, didn’t last long. Just fifteen days after receiving the offer, Jackie got another call from Dev Anand. He was unexpectedly removed from the role and was replaced by National Award-winning actor Mithun Chakraborty, given his seniority and fantastic dancing skills. Jackie recalled:

“After 15 days, Dev sahab called and asked me to visit him. When I went there, he told me, 'Mithun is here. So I’m going to give that role to Mithun. Because he’s a better dancer. I’ve seen you dance, you’re good, but he’s better. Plus, he’s a senior.' The dates you brought to me, for that, I’ll give you a role in the villain’s den. And villain’s den mein Shakti Kapoor ka chamcha ban gaya main.”

After removing him from the second lead, Jackie was instead offered a minor part as the third villain, playing the ‘chamcha’ (yes-man) of Shakti Kapoor. Despite the disappointment of losing a role that could have been his breakthrough, Jackie took the setback with grace. Given that he got the opportunity to work with the legendary Dev Anand, whom he idolised and admired, Jackie played the role of a tough guy and gave it his all. He told Kunickaa:

“My demotion happened in 15 days, from the second lead to the third villain… Mom said, ‘Whatever it is, son, just do it.’ I liked him. My mom knew I used to love him and all his songs. So I got the role and I did it with all my heart. I played a typical tough guy. I didn’t feel dejected. I was just happy I got Dev Sahab’s film.”

Jackie Shroff’s ultimate breakthrough with Hero

Not long after his lesser-known debut, Jackie landed his big break in 1983 when Subhash Ghai cast him as the lead in Hero, opposite Meenakshi Sheshadri. Despite a slow box office start, the film eventually became a blockbuster, turning both actors into overnight stars, and the rest is history.

Jackie Shroff will next be seen in Tanvi The Great, directed by Anupam Kher, releasing in theatres on July 18, 2025.

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