Jagdeep’s film journey was very struggling. As a child artiste, he started with a daily wage of just Rs 3. This child, who had closely witnessed the tragedy of partition and poverty, never thought that he would become an actor. But destiny had something else in store. During the shooting of the film ‘Afsana’ in 1951, the lead child actor could not speak the Urdu dialogue, then Jagdeep, who was a part of the crowd, spoke the dialogue himself. The director was impressed by his skill and he got a chance to work at a daily wage of Rs 6. This was the beginning of his film career.
Jagdeep’s pronunciation in Urdu was clear and impressive. At the age of just 9, he performed brilliantly in the announcement before the arrival of the king in the court. The director immediately called him on the set and gave him his first role and at that very moment he decided that now acting is his life.
The real revelation of his comic talent came when director Bimal Roy saw him in a crying scene in the film ‘Dhobi Doctor’. Bimal Roy believed that only the one who can make others cry on screen can show depth through humor. For this reason, he gave Jagdeep the comical role of a boot polisher in the film. This scene proved to be a turning point in Jagdeep’s life and career.
After this, Jagdeep played comedy-filled roles in films like ‘Sholay’, ‘Roti’, ‘Ek Baar Kaho’. His humor was sometimes magical, sometimes sentimental. The audience not only considered him a source of entertainment, but also felt the life experience and sensitivity hidden in his performance. This is the reason why he became an unforgettable name for comedy and character acting in Hindi cinema.
Jagdeep’s story tells that if given struggle, talent and right direction, any ordinary child can become a star on the big screen. The journey that started with a daily wage of Rs 6 took him to ‘Soorma Bhopali’ and an enduring comedian of Hindi cinema. His achievement not only made the audience laugh but also gave inspiration to the coming generations.
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