After Madhuri Dixit, it`s Jackie Shroff`s turn to be peeved with the publicity of Devdas. "I am the seniormost actor in the film, but nobody bothered to invite me to any of the screenings," rues the handsome actor when queried about his absence from the film`s grand premiere in Mumbai.
Jackie had reluctantly accepted the role of Chunnilal, Devdas` hard-drinking friend, after actors like Manoj Bajpai and Govinda had turned it down. "I knew from day one that I couldn`t repeat what Motilal had essayed so wonderfully in the earlier version," says Jackie. The least he expected was some courtesy from the film`s producers.
But despite the snub, the bindaas Jackie is not complaining, least of all to director Sanjay Leela Bhansali. It is his happy-go-lucky attitude that has earned him the tag of `Mr. Dependable`. Among his industry friends are several influential producers. So as long as roles keep flowing in, he has nothing to worry about. Hai na Jaggu dada?
