Jackie Shroff has always embraced his modest roots. In a recent interview, he shared his emotional connection to the Mumbai chawl where he spent 33 years of his life. Shroff revealed that he’s trying to rent his old room to relive those memories, but his former landlord refuses to give it back, despite Shroff offering to match the current rent or more.
Jackie Shroff Still Longs for His Childhood Chawl Room
Jackie, who grew up in a chawl in Mumbai’s Teen Batti area, still visits the place to soak in its atmosphere.
Speaking to Vickey Lalwani on his YouTube channel, Jackie recalled, “I am trying, but they are not giving it back to me. He (the landlord) thinks that if he gives it to me then… I am like, ‘bro, I won’t run away with it’. This guy is not giving it to me. I told him that whatever money you are getting as rent of my old room… four people live there now, I told him that I will pay what those four people are paying. But he doesn’t want to.”
‘I Still Stand in the Balcony and Eat Paan’
Jackie said the room holds deep emotional value. It was his home until his mother gave it up after the passing of his brother. “It is my room. My mother gave it up after my brother died. But I want to treasure that place, spend some time there, feel the energy of that place. I spent 33 years there. I love the vibe of that place. Even if he doesn’t give me that room, I sometimes go there, stand in the balcony in evening, have some paan,” he said.
He added that while the landlord may be hesitant, his connection to that space goes beyond money or convenience—it’s about memory and belonging.
In the same conversation, Jackie reflected on the tough financial times he faced after turning producer for the 2003 film Boom. He acknowledged that ups and downs are part of starting any business. “If you can’t handle it… it has to be there. That happened and we learnt. A lot of people who start new companies, they face ups and downs. I faced it too. Things happen in life, it’s up to you how you deal with it.”
When asked if he ever sought help from his friends in the industry, he replied, “I didn’t want to ask anybody. I didn’t want to put my burden on somebody. How can you do that? You have to focus on yourself.”