If there is one quality that binds the Shroffs, it is their humility and caring attitude. The father-son duo of Jackie and Tiger Shroff made their first appearance on Koffee With Karan, where they made some candid confessions.
While Jackie Shroff has always been a ladies’ man, in a pleasant turn of events, son Tiger, usually reticent, came up with some surprising disclosures. The younger Shroff stunned viewers when he disclosed how he had a crush on Baaghi co-star Shraddha Kapoor. The two have been friends since their school days, but the shy Shroff had never had the courage to express his feelings.
“The only time I got attention from the girls was when I excelled at sports and athletics. I could see that girls liked me for it, but I had this inherent ego in me that why should I go to them. If they like me, they will come to me," Tiger said on the show.
Papa Shroff corrected his son, reminding him how it was not his inherent ego but his shyness that prevented him from making friends.
Tiger Shroff did not, however, hold back while talking about his childhood friend Shraddha. “We were in the same school. We played together. Shraddha is a very close friend. I used to like her, but I could never tell her that,” he said.
During the rapid-fire round, Karan Johar asked Tiger whom, among Shraddha Kapoor, Jacqueline Fernandez, and Kriti Sanon, he would kill, hook up with, or marry. The younger Shroff did not hesitate in saying he would marry Kapoor. “I wouldn’t kill anyone. So I would rather use the word dump, actually even that is not a good word. I’ll marry Shraddha Kapoor, hook up with Jacqueline, because she is so pretty. And I’ll ditch Kriti. Sorry, Kriti I love you though,” he said humbly.
Asked about his rumoured girlfriend Disha Patani, Tiger Shroff yet again denied that he was dating her. "I have a handful of two-three close friends, Disha is one of the them. She is so beautiful. She makes me look better," he said.
While Tiger was diplomatic, father Jackie did not hesitate in expressing his affection for Madhuri Dixit. "Madhuri broke my heart," said the senior Shroff with a sullen look. The Happy New Year (2014) villain even kept mumbling Dixit's name when Johar asked him to choose his favourite Khan.
"She broke my heart when she got married," added Shroff.
Talking of broken hearts, Jackie Shroff felt for Ranbir Kapoor. "Us bacchey ka hamesha dil tut-ta rehta hai. [Ranbir keeps having heartbreaks]," he said. He also rated him as the best actor of the current generation.
In his short career, Tiger Shroff has excelled as a dancer and fitness freak, but he is yet to convince critics about his acting skills. Asked how he compared himself with his contemporaries Ranbir Kapoor, Ranveer Singh and Sushant Singh Rajput, Shroff did not hesitate in saying, “I’m no match to them. They all have their strengths. I have always embraced the criticism as that will only enable me to grow."
Among the actresses, Tiger Shroff said he was dying to work with Alia Bhatt, who is a close friend of his sister Krishna.
Jackie Shroff’s contemporaries Meenakshi Sheshadri, Juhi Chawla and Poonam Dhillon all heaped praise on the seasoned actor for his macho style. Dhillon, though, asked Tiger not to take up the few bad habits of his father like smoking and drinking, or emulate his generosity.
One of Tiger's favourite childhood memories was how his father once threw him in the air but instead of catching the baby ended up saving the towel. “I thought I could catch both the towel and the baby at the same time. Sadly, Tiger came crashing down. I will never forgive myself for that,“ said an embarrassed Jackie.
Towards the latter part of the show, Tiger’s mother Ayesha Shroff revealed the tough times the family faced when she produced Boom (2003). “Our film got pirated, so distributors backed out. It was a tough time for us. However, I still remember how Jackie came to me and said it is matter of honour and dignity for the family, and he would make sure the film was released. We mortgaged our house. Later, when Tiger got his first film, he said mama, I will buy back that house,” an emotional Ayesha said.
The episode was unlike the usual fun and frolic that is seen on Koffee With Karan. The sincerity and humility of the Shroffs won viewers over. Yes, Jackie Shroff spoke in a weird accent, but he spoke from the heart. Isn’t that the reason why we all love Jackie Shroff?
You can catch the episode here: http://www.hotstar.com/tv/koffee-with-karan/1525/jackie-shroff-and-tiger-shroff/1000165116