'MAA' AND MY CINEMA
Jaggu Daada Se Jaldi Bath Cheeth

Report by - CNB                 Photo by -K.M. Veeresh           Date - 22nd January  2006 Time 10.30 PM

'I have learnt everything in my life from my 'Maa' (Mother) and came up in Cinema' - this is Jaggu Daada the affectionate, highly respected and humble Bollywood actor talking to you. The Kannada film journalists caught up with this six foot Jackie Shroff on Sunday evening at The Club situated on Mysore Road. From 'Hero' to 'Devdaas' a lot of well performed roles came in the memory of colleagues.

We bring you the abridged version of the hour long chat.

• As a chief minister on screen for 'Care of Footpath' directed by 10 years old Master Kishen what order you pass?
  I only help the child from 'care of footpath' no passing of big order. It is so coincidence that I live in the same road of Maharashtra governor S.M.Krishna who was earlier real chief minister of Karnataka.
  
• How do you assess Master Kishen?
  He is brilliant. In the car he was traveling with me from airport of Bangalore he was closing his eyes. I thought he must be sleeping. But he said he is thinking. He slept for sometime in the vehicle I put my jacket on him as the wind was blowing. Later he told he woke at 5 in the morning and worried about the function taking place. At this age of Kishen in the slum I was playing marble. But Kishen at this age is a computer wizard. He knows how to do graphics in computer. He is such a brilliant boy.
  
  
• You got prompting while delivering the dialogue?
  Yes. All the dialogues were taught to me. My director Kishen has also taught me that I should read the paper before signing. I did it. Then he asked to tell the dialogue slowly. No director taught me like this. He called me uncle on the sets and that is also for the first time. He is the pride of Karnataka.
  
• It is a learning process in life. You have learnt everything what you have from cinema?
  No it is from my 'Maa' I learnt everything in life. I used to stay in the slum for a long time after SSLC no 'Dabbu' for college. When my mother was coughing I used to get up and ask her health problem. As I grew up the walls of separation in the big house separated me from my mother. I was sleeping in one room and my mother was sleeping in another room. On one morning she died I could not do anything. I remembered the advantage of living in one room.
  
• That's why you give back what you earn a part to the slum and downtrodden children?
  That I have been doing since a long time. I don't believe in NGO's. I give direct assistance to poor children. I arrange for good food, education and medical health. I have tied up with number of hospitals. Whenever I do advertising as model I keep that money for poor children.
• Doing social service you could avoid the income tax wallaas?
  One thing I want to make it clear. All the big people don't pay me money. Ghai, Chopras and others say I have given you a role. The starters will not be having money. We get payment only from medium film producers.
  
• Are you in to television these days?
  I am doing one mythological television serial. The name has not been decided.
  
• You have done so many films in your career. At least after taking inspiration from Master Kishen you can take up direction?
  No. that is not possible from my side. I have produced a few films and lost money. The job of producer is terrible.
  
• When you look back what do you feel?
  I have good career still ahead. I think about it. When I go back I feel the days of looking for acting. I was living next to actress Bindu residence. I was told just stand here and wait for someone to call you. For a person who came up from care of footpath everything is 'Maa' given. She is the god to me.
  
  
• This is the first Kannada for you. You have assigns in other languages?
  I have done a Malayalam, Bengali, Bojpuri and Telugu film. My next release is 'Divorce'. Bojpuri is language is growing very big. There are 12 crore people who see that language film.
  
• What is it about?
  I play a lawyer. The young boy is left uncared by parents. He asks me the meaning of divorce. Then he asks me to take up the case of his. He says he wants divorce from his parents. I have another one 'Yeh Dilne Kya Bola'.
  
  
• You are such a senior actor. Why this national award not reached you?
  I don't know lobbying. I am happy because I got three times Film Fare award.
  
  
• Your life sketch is a wonderful material for a film?
  There are good and touching elements. For making it as a film I have not thought yet.
  
  
• How come Jackie is not caught in the gossip mills?
  My wife is very beautiful. So there is no chance for it.
  
• How about your fans?
  I don't have fan club. I have plenty of fans. One girl just after my marriage stayed below my house for one week to get married to me. Another girl threatened to commit suicide.
  
• How is your family?
  I have a boy studying in 10th and daughter in 7th standard. I love to cook for them whenever I have time. But I don't forget doing oil massage for my children even to this day. They become physically fit. They play football. Nana Patekar offered a role. But my son said he wants to play football for the country.
  
  
• Have you not diversified in roles?
  I like comedy. But it is difficult to make people laugh.
  
• What is that thread you have around your neck?
  That was given by my friend. I go to Thirupathi. Twice I went to Thirupathi.