Exclusive: “It Shook Me Up” – Jackie Shroff Opens Up About Losing His Brother

In a heartfelt conversation on In The Ring with Filmfare, Jackie Shroff opened up about one of the most painful moments of his life, the loss of his elder brother at a young age.

Jackie shared, “I was ten when my brother passed away. He was 17. That was the first time I realised that death exists. It was traumatic. Until then, my brother, my mother, and my father looked after me. I was a ten-year-old champ. Suddenly, to witness something like this… it shook me up.”

Jackie described how deeply it affected his childhood. He said, “ I was scattered as a kid. It did register because there was panic. My mom was crying. My dad was strong. And I had no idea what was happening. That was the first big learning, that we are not immortal. So, let’s get real.”

He also spoke about how it took him years to process the grief. He revealed, “For three years, I thought he would come back. By the age of 16 or 17, I started to accept it. But growing up in a chawl, I saw all kinds of people, rough ones, elite ones. The rough crowd became a big part of my life.” 

The actor also spoke about how friendships and loyalty shaped him. He said, “I got into street brawls because of my friends. It was never my fight. Even today, I don’t like fighting. But if my friends are getting beaten up, I jump in. It’s like… my brother gave his life for his friend. My family believed it, I still do. You go out for your friends. That’s what I feel. If I can afford it, I should give it.”

Jackie’s raw honesty on the personal loss showed how it has shaped the man we see today. On the work front, Jackie Shroff was last seen in Housefull 5 and will next be seen in Tanvi The Great directed by Anupam Kher, releasing on July 18.

Also Read: Jackie Shroff, Tiger Shroff and Krishna Shroff prove they’re the most chilled family