Used to Carry Salman’s Picture in My Pocket: Jackie Shroff

Jackie plays Salman’s father in ‘Bharat’.

Jackie Shroff and Salman Khan share a laugh at the screening of Bharat.

(Photo: Yogen Shah)

Ahead of Salman Khan’s Eid release Bharat, Jackie Shroff got candid about his relationship with the actor. In an interview with Hindustan Times, he affectionately recalled how he tried to help Salman land roles when he was starting out, going as far as carrying pictures with him to show producers.

“I used to click Salman’s pictures during ‘Falak’ (1988) and I used to carry his pictures in my pocket asking producers to cast him. (I asked) KC Bokadia, Subhash ji, etc., to cast Salman in their films. I did that for him also. Mujhe lagta tha ye baccha star banega. Abhi mauka mila hai bacche ko ki mera beta banane ka (I felt this kid would become a star one day, now I’ve got a chance to make that child my son in a film). He was a baccha for me, for me he is still a baccha (He was a kid to me then and remains one even today),” he said.

Jackie also spoke of how starstruck Salman was by him “He was my big fan and he liked my jeans, my boots. He thinks I am god,” he told the publication.

Jackie Shroff plays Salman’s father in his latest release, Bharat, a remake of award-winning Korean film Ode to My Father. Speaking about his role, Jackie said that it was important for any actor portraying his son to either look up to him or be good enough at his craft to fake it.

“I am happy to play his father. I have a cameo like they always take me, Dhoom, for instance, with its dialogue ‘Haath nahi chodhna saath nahi chodhna’. Similarly, my role in Bharat is like the film’s spine. It’s like a spine that stays throughout the film,” he noted.

Bharat has been directed by Ali Abbas Zafar and also stars Katrina Kaif, Disha Patani and Sunil Grover. It hit theatres on 5 June.