Subhash K Jha takes a look at the comic virtuoso Jagedeep’s incredible career in this special spotlight.
Many would like to remember Jagdeep not only as Soorma Bhopali in Sholay (1975) but also as Badriprasad Chaurasia in Priyadarshan’s Muskurahat(1992).
Recalling the experience of directing Jagdeep in Muskurahat, Priyan says, “What I still remember vividly about him is that he would actually listen to my directorial instructions and then give the shot. A lot of actors pretend to listen. Not him. He was on it fully. I wish I had worked more with him. He fitted right into my situational comedies. I guess I was just stuck in my comfort zone.”
A lot of movie buffs believe Jagdeep’s performance in Muskurahat to be on a par with his celebrated Soorma Bhopali in Sholay. Sadly, Muskurahat didn’t work. It was Priyadarshan’s first Hindi film.
Writer-director Rumi Jaffery met Jagdeep for the first time when, at the age of 18, he came from his hometown of Bhopal to Mumbai to attend a wedding. 18-year-old Rumi dropped in to meet Jagdeep as a fan. Rumi could never forget his kindness and generosity. Not only did he ask about Rumi’s family and ambitions, but Jagdeep also lent Rumi an apartment in Juhu for Rumi to stay in.
Rumi shared close ties with Jagdeep until the latter’s death on July 8, 2020. In fact, Jagdeep’s last two films, Life Partner and Gali Gali Mein Chor Hai, were directed by Rumi. By then, the work had almost stopped coming to Jagdeep.
Years before Jagdeep’s death, Rumi had written the dialogues for a film called Pehla Pehla Pyar. It required a cameo appearance by a comic actor. Asrani was supposed to do the role. But he couldn’t make it. There was no time to get anyone else, so they approached Jagdeep. He asked why they had approached him so late when the shooting was just hours away. When Jagdeep got to know he was a last-minute replacement for Asrani he refused the role. “Dilip Kumar Saab is also not doing any films. Why don’t you offer it to him?”
Not many know that Jagdeep was cast as Birju, Nargis’s rebellious son in Mother India. They even shot the film with him. But somehow, director Mehboob Khan felt Jagdeep wasn’t getting the expressions right. That’s how they replaced him with Sunil Dutt.
Jagdeep’s son, Javed Jafri, too, had to struggle hard to make an impact despite his extraordinary dancing skills. Now, his grandson Meezan is struggling to find a foothold in filmdom.
