Jaaved Jaaferi reveals why he never became a Bollywood A-lister: 'There's PR involved'

Jaaved Jaaferi (Pic/Instagram)

Jaaved Jaaferi has been one of the most promising actors in the industry. He recently reflected on why he never made it to Bollywood's A-list despite a successful career spanning decades. The actor admitted that a lack of strong PR and groupism held him back. He also recalled how his debut in Meri Jung led to him being typecast as a villain early in his career.

Jaaved Jaaferi on not being an A-lister

In a recent chat with SCREEN, Jaaved was asked why he never became an A-lister in the 1990s. Jaaved said, "I think it depends on how you're packaged. There's also PR involved because the industry has its own web. There are times when there's a negative thing about you out there, so you need a reality check or a positive thing about you being put out."

He continued, "I failed to do that, in some ways. I was also not a part of any group. Also, if you have a big hit, nobody argues with you. Nothing speaks like success. Like it happened with Salman Khan. He came in with Biwi Ho Toh Aisi (1988), and people wrote him off. Then Maine Pyar Kiya (1989) happened, and everybody was running after him. It's the same Salman Khan! It's not like he was doing something different from what he was doing in Biwi Ho Toh Aisi. But it's just the success. And then, of course, you grow with that. From that perspective, I never got that big hit."

Jaaved on being typecast as a villain

Jaaved made his film debut in Subhash Ghai's Meri Jung in 1985. His energetic performance in the song Bol Baby Bol also received attention. However, the film typecast him as a villain. He explained, "I was launched as a villain! Subhash Ghai sahab was the most successful director then. NN Sippy sahab was one of the top producers then. So, everyone thought if they've taken me as a villain, that's what I should be taken as going forward. That judgment was already passed. But I don't think too much about it, honestly."

On the work front, he recently reprised his role of Manav in the comic caper Dhamaal 4. The film, starring Ajay Devgn, Arshad Warsi, Anjali Anand, Riteish Deshmukh, and Sanjeeda Sheikh, has received a mixed response.