Jackie Shroff recalls Dev Anand replaced him with Mithun Chakraborty as 2nd lead in debut film, made him ‘third villain': ‘Main Shakti Kapoor ka chamcha ban gaya'

Indian Express

07-07-2025

Jackie Shroff made his memorable debut with Subhash Ghai's 1983 romantic action film Hero, but not too many know that his first-ever onscreen appearance was in an uncredited role as a henchman in Dev Anand's 1982 action film Swami Dada. In fact, he was initially offered to play the second lead to Dev Anand by the legendary actor himself, who was also the director of the film.
'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,' said Shroff, adding, '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!''
On Kunickaa Sadanand's podcast, Shroff continued, '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 dance. I've seen you dance, you're good but he's better. Plus, he's senior.'' Dev gave the role he initially offered to Shroff to Mithun Chakraborty, who had in fact won a National Award for his 1976 debut film, Mrinal Sen's period action drama Mrigayaa.
'The dates you brought to me, for that, I'll give you a role in the villain's den,' Dev Anand told Shroff. 'And villain's den mein Shakti Kapoor ka chamcha ban gaya main (I became Shakti Kapoor's henchman in the villain's den). My demotion happened in 15 days, from the second lead to the third villain. I went back home and told my mother I got a villain's role (laughs),' recalled Shroff.
Shroff went on to do the role because of his fondness for Dev Anand. 'So 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,' added Shroff.
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Shroff, who used to live inside a chawl in Mumbai, met Dev Anand through his son Suniel, with whom he'd done acting classes following his modelling days. A year after Swami Dada, Subhash Ghai offered Jackie the lead role opposite Meenakshi Sesdhadri in Hero. 'The film didn't work for the first three weeks. Then Subhash Ghai called me and said, 'Go back to modelling. I don't think your film is going to work.' But in the fourth week, Hero picked up and there was no looking back,' recalled Shroff.