Any one in your place and position would have made a big show of completing twenty five years as a star which is no ordinary achievement. You have not even let people know. Why?

I only thank God for being kind to me. I only know that it is the love of the people that has made me last so long. Believe me; I have not kept track of the years. I have been around. I am grateful, surprised and even amazed how people have tolerated me as an actor. I only know that I have followed the path marked for me. If I have lasted all these years it is not because of me, kasam se. it is because of the will and the love of the people. I cannot take any credit. They have made me what I am. They have helped me. I have no role to play in whatever I have gained or whatever place I have reached and the years I have survived. I am not being modest. I don't have to because I have always said whatever I feel bindaas.

What do you think is the secret of your success?

I wish I could know. I don't know. I don't have to know. All I know is that I am lucky. The only secret of my success is that I don't know my secret. Only God knows the secret of my success. I am only a player in His hands. I have not gone against His guidelines. If following Him and His plan is a secret the God's plans for me is the biggest secret of my success and who am I to know what secret God has planned for me. I have never questioned Him plans. I have never tried to find the reason why He is so kind to me. That is the only secrets.

But, seriously you must have worked out some plans, some strategy?

Seriously, I have never worked out any plan. If I knew how to work out plans to be successful I would have been the greatest success story in the film industry today.

Are you satisfied with your career till now?

How can I be anything but satisfied? I have never claimed to be a great actor or a great star. I have only been what was planned for me. But people call me what they want. I will always be Jaggu, the Teen Battliwala Jaggu. I may be a successful star but I don't claim any credit for what I am. I am a secret even to my self.

Next to God and the people who have loved you, who do you think are the people who have played a part in your success?

The first man who comes to my mind is the legendary Dev Sahab. I used to always admire him. If there was one star who I admired in my youth and even tried to imitate it was Dev Sahab. And what a fantastic coincidence it was then the same great man sent for me when he wanted me to play a bit role in his film ("Swami Dada"). I would have just walked on the road if he had asked me to. I worked with him but knowing him and feeling his love for me is what I consider the greatest reward and everything in my life. Then, of course there is the great Ghai Sahab, My "Mai Baap" (God Father) who gave me my first break as a hero and has never stopped considering me for a role in the films he has directed. He has always given me the best role and kept me out of the roles that he felt did not suit me. There are others like Mahesh Bhatt, Vinod Chopra and Priyadarshan who helped in grooming the actor in me it was difficult to bring out the best of the actor in me but I was lucky to find these Gurus who I think I would not find any where in the world. This industry is my school, my temple, my masjid, my church, my gurudwara, this is one place I will not exchange for any other place.

But people talk about the negative side of this industry which you are praising so much?

People are free to have their own opinion and pass their own judgment. I know there are people who talk in a very negative way but I think they are only the frustrated and the failed few who have come with great hope and lost, I feel sorry for these people because they have not seen the beautiful side of this industry. It is a really large hearted industry. There are some negative forces but they are far less than the evils in any other industry. I love this industry and will till the end of my life.

How much have you grown as an actor in all these days?

I cannot pass judgment on myself but all I can say is that I have been given a chance to grow as an actor. Some of my most difficult dreams have come true and I hope to grow in to a better actor at this stage of my career.

Did you ever realize that you would be the Jackie Shroff you are today?

Na re baba. Never. I thought I would be thrown out after just one or two films but I am still around and I think it is all because of God's love for me and the love of the people.

Have you ever been recognized as a great actor?

Frankly, by God I have no regrets or miss understandings about myself. I know my limitations. I know I cannot be a Dilip Kumar or a Sanjeev Kumar or an Amitabh Bachchan. Or I don't even try to compete or compare myself with them. I am happy being what I am and consider myself very fortunate to be where I stand today.

You tried to make it as a producer. What happened?

I realized very soon that production was not my cup of tea it was not in me to go through all the problems a producer has to face. I have given up trying, for the moment. I can't say anything about the future. I leave everything to God.

You were known as the good Samaritan who always helped the poor. One doesn't see that image of you now. Why?

I was being taken for a ride. I found out people were taking advantage of my weakness I have not stopped being good. I cannot stop being good. It is a part of me. The only difference is that I now do it in my own way which only I and my team of workers know.

What about the future?

God looked after me in the past, He looks after me now and I have total trust in Him and only Him to lead me in the future too. Jiske saath Bhagwan hota hai usko koi bhi darr nahi ho sakta.