When Jackie Shroff Was Accused Of Trying To Kiss A 16-Year-Old Tabu At A Party

News18

04-07-2025

The film industry of the 1980s and 1990s was not just about cinematic magic, it was also a time marked by off-screen drama, star romances, and the occasional scandal. Among the many whispered stories of the era, one particular incident involving Jackie Shroff and Tabu still captures attention to this day.
According to media reports, a party hosted in Mauritius in 1987 became the centre of controversy when actor Jackie Shroff, allegedly under the influence of alcohol, attempted to kiss a young Tabu against her will. The party had been organised by Jackie Shroff to celebrate the success of the film Diljala, which starred him alongside Farah Naaz, Tabu's elder sister.
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At the time of the alleged incident, Tabu—whose full name is Tabassum Fatima Hashmi—was only 16 years old. Her sister Farah Naaz was already an established actress in the industry and had brought Tabu along to the celebration.
Farah Naaz was said to be outraged and openly backed her younger sister, even going on record about the incident. However, in the years that followed, Farah later described the incident as a 'misunderstanding'. Tabu herself never publicly addressed the matter, likely due to her young age at the time.
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As a result of the incident, Jackie Shroff and Tabu reportedly never worked together in any film. While the Hindi film industry moved on, the story remained a footnote in Bollywood's complicated history.
Despite the early controversy, Tabu went on to build one of the most respected acting careers in Indian cinema. She began acting at the age of 11 in Bazaar (1982), followed by Hum Naujawan (1985). Her breakthrough came in 1994 with Vijaypath, and she went on to earn critical acclaim in Maachis (1996), Chandni Bar (2001), Maqbool (2003), Haider (2014), and more.