Veteran actor Jackie Shroff After the box office failure of his 2003 film ‘Boom’ he has spoken about becoming a true superhero for his family during the darkest financial crisis. In a candid interview to celebrate the release of Manish Saini’s new film ‘The Great Grand Superhero’, the 69-year-old actor revealed how the family bounced back after being forced to sell their property and furniture. Shroff also reflected on his legendary journey of 41 years, comparing his latest avatar to his historic role in India’s first 3D superhero film, ‘Shiva Ka Insaaf’ (1985).
Jackie Shroff opens up about the ‘Boom’ debacle
In ‘The Great Grand Superhero’, Jackie Shroff plays an elderly man who takes on the role of a superhero to fulfill his grandson’s vain hopes. The actor revealed that he is intimately familiar with stepping up in times of tremendous pressure. In 2003, Jackie’s wife, Ayesha Shroff, produced Kaizad Gustad’s black comedy thriller Boom, which marked her acclaimed film debut. Katrina Kaif. Despite being a star studded film directed by Amitabh Bachchan, the experimental film bombed at the box office. The financial onslaught was devastating, causing severe marital strain and forcing the family to liquidate basic assets, down to household furniture.Reflecting on how he steered his family from financial ruin through ingenious investment strategies, Jackie shared with SCREEN, “Dad is always the superhero. There’s no pressure because superheroes don’t feel pressure. Even if they do, they don’t show it.”Although her children are now very successful, the actor refuses to forget the days when the sun didn’t shine in their homes, saying, “I remember all my times. I’m not that old that I forget. My memory is good.”
Jackie Shroff on maintaining innocence and nature
Jackie Shroff directly attributes his emotional resilience and gentle spirit to his late mother despite her tough and intelligent reputation. His famous environmental campaign encouraging citizens to plant more jhaad (trees) is entirely due to his growth impact.“I have maa ka dil. There’s a lot of love in a mother’s heart. It’s in mine. Some people have a father’s heart too. They’re tough. But a mother is always the spoon. Children usually take what they learn from their mothers. She loved roses. I put them on her grave recently for her birthday.”
Jackie Shroff dressed at 69
Playing a caped cruiser at age 69 presents unique physical challenges, especially when dealing with heavy, suffocating costume fabrics. However, the actor appreciates the grueling nature of filmmaking.“Of course, it’s hot but you don’t complain. Who asked you to become an actor? Mujhe kisi ne zabardasti toh nahi bola actor banne! (No one forced me to become an actor!) So be thankful,” Shroff said.When asked about the infamous design flaw of superhero costumes, which lack zippers, making standard bathrooms a nightmare, Jackie Shroff joked about his disciplined lifestyle.Shroff said, “Control hai bhai. Yog aur saans pe dhyaan! (It’s all about control, yoga and breathing!) Take some water. No complaints. Mehnat toh hai. It looks very ‘wow’ from the outside, but behind the shine there is a lot of dirt.”
Jackie Shroff on his journey from ‘Shiva Ka Insaaf’ to ‘Flying Jatt Ka Baap’
The Great Superhero is far from Jackie’s first rodeo on the Cape. 41 years ago, he starred in Raj N Sippy’s cult classic Shiva Ka Insaaf (1985), which has the historic distinction of being India’s first 3D superhero film.“It was really tiring. I even went to the US to test the camera with these gentlemen, but it was a lot of fun,” said Shroff.When the trailer of his latest film was released online, Tiger Shroff he shared on his Instagram Stories, tagging his father as “Flying Jatt ka baap”, a nod to Tiger’s 2016 superhero venture ‘A Flying Jatt’.Listening to the commentary, Jackie fondly recalled Tiger’s childhood obsession with the 1985 3D hit:“He was crazy about it. He was like, ‘My dad is a superhero.’ I think that’s what every child thinks about their father.’
More about ‘The Great Grand Superhero’
‘The Great Grand Superhero’ is a comedy drama directed by Manish Saini which released on 29 May 2026. The film stars veteran actor Jackie Shroff as an elderly grandfather whose life takes a dramatic turn when he believes his young grandson is actually a caped crusader. Feeling the heavy yet endearing burden of a child’s failed expectations, Shroff’s character truly sets out to become a real-life superhero, blending a tough, larger-than-life personality with deep emotional vulnerability. According to Sacnilk, the film has earned Rs. 1.38 crore by Day 4.
