“Call me if you're ever hungry,” Jackie Shroff supports 100 families from Teen Batti to Pali Hill

Bollywood actor Jackie Shroff, renowned for his magnetic screen presence and rugged charm, has long been admired for his versatility on screen. However, beyond the arc lights and applause, Jackie—born Jaikishan Kakubhai Shroff—has emerged as a silent saviour for Mumbai’s slum-dwellers.

From Chawl Dweller to Superstar with a CauseHaving grown up in a modest chawl near the Teen Batti area, Jackie spent over three decades in poverty. Recalling those tough times, he once shared in an interview with Mathrubhumi, “We had public toilets—just three for all the families in our building. Every morning, I had to stand in a long queue with a mug in my hand, waiting for my turn.”

Those early struggles shaped Jackie’s empathy. Today, he's fondly known as ‘Jaggu Dada’ in the slums—not just a nickname, but a badge of honour. After the tragic death of his elder brother Hemant, who drowned while saving a child, Jackie took on his brother’s legacy of kindness and compassion.

He now supports around 100 underprivileged families, extending help from Teen Batti to Pali Hill. From providing food and covering hospital bills through his personal account at Nanavati Hospital to answering distress calls at any hour—Jackie remains accessible to those in need. It's often said that every child in the area has his phone number, and he has one simple instruction for them: “Call me if you're ever hungry.”

Still Grounded Despite a Life of LuxuryEven with a luxurious 8-BHK bungalow worth ₹31.5 crore and a reported net worth exceeding ₹212 crore, according to GQ India, Jackie continues to spend nearly half his savings on the welfare of those he once called neighbours. His humility and unwavering commitment have earned him a title far more meaningful than ‘superstar’—to many, he is nothing less than a messiah.

On the Work FrontJackie Shroff was last seen in ‘Singham Again’, where he played a menacing antagonist. But it is his off-screen role—as a real-life hero to Mumbai’s underprivileged—that continues to define his legacy.

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