Jackie Shroff on 40 years of Hero: “I hope to see a Hero remake starring my son Tiger.”

Jackie Shroff, who is feeling sentimental as his film Hero turns 40, thanks director Subhash Ghai for providing him with a platform. He now says that he hopes his son Tiger will continue his legacy and play the lead role in the film’s remake, whenever that may happen.

In the movie, Jackie collaborated with Ghai for the first time, catapulting the actor into stardom. It had Meenakshi Seshadri as well. The girl falls in love with her abductor in this passionate love tale. It was Shroff’s first leading role.

“We planted the seed forty years ago, and even now, I am benefiting from it. My children are doing well, and my family is doing well too. I was rescued from the chawl and elevated to stardom by Subhashji. Pathar ko unhone hero bana diya. Jackie continues, “I have a great deal of respect for him.

Here, he acknowledges that he had no idea the movie would grow to such a large scale and earn a classic reputation.

“I found it funny that Ghai Sir turned a person from a chawl into a Hero. I was astounded by all that was going on around me. Alongside such well-known actors as Meenakshi, Shammi Kapoor, and Shakti Kapoor, I was starring. I was afraid to collaborate with them as I blindly followed my guru Subhash Ji’s idea. My life abruptly altered when the movie came out,” he says.

The movie was the third-highest grosser of 1983 at the time and was a big smash at the box office. The songs were very popular as well. 2015 saw a remake of the movie with Sooraj Pancholi and Athiya Shetty in the lead roles.

He also has no problem with the concept of remakes. “Remaking anything is very acceptable. Nobody can be told not to attend by us. In a remake, I also starred. It is an attempt to capture the charm and pay homage to a classic movie. Although it can’t be exactly like the original, the effort is what counts, the 66-year-old argues.

The actor now wants Tiger, his son, to play the lead role in the movie’s adaptation, should that happen.

“I hope Tiger appears in the reimagining. I was turned into a musical action star with a pistol in one hand and a flute in the other by Subhash Ghai. My son is talented in both music and acting. He’s very patient, and my only wish is that he works with competent professionals under my direction. “I believe that if a movie is made, it will become a beautiful one,” he continues. “Hero mil gaya toh maza aayega.” Since he will be carrying on my legacy, I want to witness it. All I want is for my audience to love him as much as they have loved me, both while I’m here and when I’m not.