In Bollywood cinema, Tiger Shroff is popular because of his action sequences, martial arts, and spectacular dance performances. But the name that has become a household name today is not the one his parents gave him at birth. The real name of Tiger Shroff is Jai Hemant Shroff.
In an interview with Curly Tales, the versatile actor revealed his unusual childhood that made up his nickname and the origin of his original name.
What Is Tiger Shroff’s Real Name?
Tiger Shroff’s real name is Jai Hemant Shroff. He is the son of actor Jackie Shroff and film producer Ayesha Shroff.
In an interview with The Indian Express during the promotions of his debut film Heropanti, Tiger clarified that Tiger was originally his pet name.
“My full name is Jai Hemant Shroff. Tiger is my pet name,” he said. He added that the nickname eventually became so familiar that he decided to use it professionally.
Ironically, the name Jai Hemant also has a unique origin. Speaking to Curly Tales in 2024, Tiger explained that Jai came from his father's name, Jai Kishen, while Hemant was his uncle's name.
“My father's name is Jai Kishen, who became Jackie in the movies. My uncle's name is Hemant, and that is how I became Jai Hemant Shroff,” he explained.
(Image Credit: Instagram @tigerjackieshroff)
Why Did Tiger Shroff Choose Tiger As His Name?
The name Tiger came from a childhood habit: he used to bite people.
In his 2014 interview with The Indian Express, the actor explained, “The story goes that bachpan mein, I used to bite people a lot so they started calling me Tiger.”
He added that the nickname stayed with him as he grew older, eventually becoming the name audiences would see on cinema screens.
Tiger revisited the story in April 2024 while promoting Bade Miyan Chote Miyan with Akshay Kumar. Speaking to Curly Tales, he said, “I used to bite people when I was a kid, and that is pretty much how I got my name.”
He also explained his childhood behaviour: “It was my way of showing affection in greeting people, seedha kaat leta tha.”
What Did Jackie Shroff Say About His Son’s Name?
Jackie Shroff, in his interview, shared his view on the name. In a 2016 interview with The Times of India, Jackie was asked why he had chosen such an unusual name for his son. He recalled: “As a baby he would bite. We have a picture of him biting his mother's nose. He would scratch my face, too.”
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He continued, “I started calling him Tiger, and that became his name.” Jackie also clarified the family's naming choices, explaining that his wife named their son Jai and their daughter Krishna, with the children's names drawing from the two parts of his own name, Jaikishan.
Tiger Shroff’s name began as a childhood nickname, long before he became a Bollywood action star. Did you know the actor was originally named Jai Hemant Shroff?
FAQs
Q1. What is Tiger Shroff's original name?
A1. Tiger Shroff's original name is Jai Hemant Shroff.
Q2. Who gave Tiger Shroff the name Tiger?
A2. Jackie Shroff has said that he started calling his son Tiger because the child used to bite and scratch people.
Q3. Did Tiger Shroff change his name for Bollywood?
A3. Yes. Tiger explained that the childhood nickname had stayed with him, so he decided to use it officially in films.