Jackie Shroff's recipes often go viral. But did you know the 'Rangeela' actor actually wanted to be a chef?
"I Wanted To Be A Chef; I Became A Hero."
Jackie Shroff is less of Jackie Shroff - the Bollywood star - and more of our own Jaggu Dada. We love him when he plays a character on the screen, and would cheer nonstop for his powerful dialogues or action-packed scenes. But when he appears as himself on the screen - whether in an interview or on his social media profile - we love him even more. Because he feels like one of us, someone we can trust without a second thought. And perhaps this is why we absolutely adore the cooking videos that he shares on social media. In those moments, he comes across as completely raw and unfiltered, sharing some life lessons while showcasing his culinary skills.
Well, it wouldn't be wrong to say that Jaggu Dada is a full-time chef today and a part-time actor. And without an iota of doubt, he is living the best phase of his life. Today, on his 68th birthday, let's learn about his love for cooking.
Cooking was Jackie Shroff's first love - all thanks to his mother who, according to the actor, was a great cook.
As a kid, Shroff used to peep in the kitchen whenever his mother cooked. And while growing up, he started learning the techniques, gradually developing a passion for the same. In his interview with ETimes, he shared, "My interest in cooking developed when I started eating and realizing my mother's cooking. I used to wonder what she was doing because I was tiny to peep in. And then once I started growing taller and I started looking into how she cooks and what she cooks, that's when the interest started arising. And then with my children, I used to cook for them. I used to feed them ambe-halad with daal, chawal, and ghee. It was the right thing to feed a child and is extra healthy."
It may sound surprising that Jackie Shroff never wanted to become an actor during his growing-up days. He wanted to be a chef and even applied at the Taj Hotel for the position of a chef apprentice. However, he was rejected as he didn't have the required degree or qualifications.
In his words, "My father said that I will be an actor but I scoffed at him. I wondered, ‘How can a boy from Teen Batti (Mumbai) become an actor?’ I went to a hotel to become a chef and then tried becoming a flight attendant but no one took me."
Notably, speaking about his foray into acting, Shroff shared in an interview with Bollywood Hungama, "I didn’t ask for anything. Whatever came to me, I did with respect. I never thought of something that I didn’t have."
Shroff loves to experiment with food, and if you follow him on social media, you must know that he is a master at turning ordinary dishes into extraordinary ones.
One of his favorite dishes is Baigan Bharta. To make it the Jaggu Dadda way, follow the recipe below.
(Credit: indian_culinary_asmr)
Kanda Bhindi is another of his favorites, which is easy to prepare and incredibly delicious.
(Credit: bawarchi_nari)
The list also includes Bhopla, which is a pumpkin-based dish.
(Credit: shivangiandarjun)
Now let's come to the most interesting part: what would he like to have as his last meal on Earth? Well, in a podcast, he revealed that it's Safed (white) Poha cooked in coconut milk.
Happy Birthday, Jaggu Dada.
