Jackie Shroff says wife Ayesha's father was Air Vice Marshal, she gave it all up to marry him and live in a chawl: ‘She stood in line for potty, sold her house to…'

Indian Express

19 hours ago

Actor Jackie Shroff and wife Ayesha Shroff's love story could easily inspire a full-fledged rom-com for the big screen. In a recent interaction, the actor opened up about how he met Ayesha when she was just 14 years old and how they eventually fell in love. He also recalled how Ayesha stood by him through financial hardships as he struggled to make a name in the Hindi film industry, even living with him in a one-room chawl for many years after their marriage. The couple have two children together — actor Tiger Shroff and Krishna Shroff.
Jackie revealed that it was love at first sight for him after he saw Ayesha travelling in a bus in Mumbai. Speaking about the moment, he said, 'It was love at first sight with Ayesha, she travelling in a bus and I was on a bike driving behind that bus. It was my friend's bike and I was going to his building because it had a pool table. I saw her in the bus. She was hanging by the holding handle and was holding a flag. She was coming from a march past. She was 14-15 at that time and I said to myself, 'This is the lady I shall marry.''
Jackie recalled speaking to Ayesha for the first time after she got down from the bus. He introduced himself, and they spoke for a while. Two days later, Ayesha's friend spoke to Jackie and shared that Ayesha believed he should be an actor. Her friend even suggested he audition for OP Ralhan's film.
Jackie recalled that he and Ayesha went for the audition together but didn't get the parts. 'Role nahi mila but we fell in love (I didn't get the role but I fell in love with Ayesha).' He also recalled that they auditioned together for Teri Baahon Mein, but he didn't get the part because he was very thin. However, Ayesha was cast in the lead actress role in the film. The couple eventually tied the knot in 1987.
Since Jackie was a struggling actor living in a chawl, Ayesha chose to follow him there and endure the financial hardships alongside him. He recalled, 'My house was running in Rs 30 when I was living in a chawl. Nobody expected anything from me. My wife stayed in one room with me at the chawl, she queued in line to go to washroom. I lived 33 years at the chawl.'
Jackie shared that Ayesha came from a well-to-do family—her father, Ranjan Dutt, was a Vir Chakra-awarded Air Vice Marshal and later the head of HAL (Hindustan Aeronautics Limited). She supported Jackie financially during his struggling years. 'My wife sold her house to get me a house. She took care of me,' he said.
When asked if Ayesha's father had any objections to their marriage, Jackie responded, 'No, he didn't object, he must have seen my intention. He must have thought that I am a horse for the long race. I know I wasn't how a young lad should have been but maybe they trusted me and I haven't let their trust down.'