Came with intention of becoming Bollywood villain: Jackie Shroff

Actor Jackie Shroff, who debuted in Bollywood as the main lead in Subhash Ghai's "Hero", says he had come to be a part of the Hindi film industry with an intention to become a villain on screen.

Before being cast in "Hero", Jackie had done a negative role in Dev Anand's "Swami Dada".

Asked if he is interested in doing only negative roles, Jackie said: "When I did my first film 'Swami Dada', I played the role of a villain... I played Shakti Kapoor's left hand. In fact, I came with the intention of becoming a villain in films as I thought it's good because I don't have to dance or sing songs and I also thought I don't have the ability to hold my position as hero alongside so many good looking actors like Amitabh Bachchan, Vinod Khanna and Dharmendra."

Jackie spoke on the sidelines of a special screening of his upcoming short film "Shunyata" here on Friday.

He said his life was never planned the way it has turned out.

"It all started with modelling and slowly I started getting offers to work in films, but I never made any plans in my life. I understand that planning, administration and strategy is important things, but I am a donkey and my brain doesn't function that way. I never planed anything in my life," he quipped.

Jackie has a special connection with Teen Batti, an area in south Mumbai. He was a resident there. Talking about his experience working in the short film "Shunyata", Jackie said that it reminded him of his old days.

"Through my character in 'Shunyata', we have tried to depict the emotions of a gangster and what drives people to live outside the so-called laws of civilized society.

"It also reminded me my old Teen Batti days. I was a rough kid as I used to live alongside road and I knew lot of things from that world. When I was narrated the story of 'Shunyata', I likeD the theme of this story. That's why I did it. My character in the film doesn't want kids to do things what he has done in his life... That is the thought process behind this film," added the actor, lovingly called Jaggu dada.

"Shunyata" is backed by Royal Stag Barrel Select Large Short Films. It is directed by Chintan Sarda, who is known for his work as an assistant director in "Don 2: The Chase Continues", "The Shaukeens" and "Raaz: The Mystery Continues".