In Bollywood, where glamour often takes the spotlight, Jackie and Ayesha Shroff’s real-life story shines for its sweet love, resilience, and sharp business sense. While Jackie earned fame for his intense on-screen roles, it was an off-screen decision with his wife that turned out to be a game-changer. Long before they faced financial trouble after their film Boom, the couple made a bold investment in Sony TV during its launch in India about 20 years ago. That move, as Ayesha now recalls, became one of their smartest and most rewarding financial decisions.
How Jackie and Ayesha invested in Sony Entertainment television?
Ayesha, who was Miss Young India 1980 and later turned actress and producer, has been a steady force behind Jackie’s journey. Together, they launched Jackie Shroff Entertainment Limited, and even owned stake in Sony Entertainment Television when it launched in India.
During a recent conversation with Zero1 Hustle by Zerodha, Ayesha opened up about how the Sony deal came together, and how it saved them from complete financial ruin later. Calling it a 'fantastic experience' she shared that it was her first encounter with a whole corporate structure, and that too, was Sony.
Ayesha explained how their team of seven people brought different strengths to the table, Jackie brought his stardom, others brought business and tech expertise. But convincing Sony to sign on with them took time and effort.
“We tried to woo the company for a whole year. That experience was very exciting, the going back and forth on the deal, the due diligence, the paperwork,” she said. Then came the unexpected turning point, a huge Bollywood party. Ayesha suggested Jackie to throw a grand party to impress Sony’s international executives, inviting the biggest names in Bollywood.
It worked. The party, held at RG’s club on Marine Drive, went on till 6 am. "And the next morning, a Sony executive from LA made a call and the papers were signed the very next day," said Ayesha.
Going forward, she also talked about the returns, which was beyond anything they expected. Describing it as the 'best investment' they have ever made, Ayesha revealed, "It was much more than that, and if you apply that concept to the deal, it was like Rs 1 lakh to Rs 100 crore back then. I don’t think I would have stayed even if the partners wanted to stay on. It was time to leave."
For the unversed, they sold their shares and ended their 15-year partnership with the channel.
Ayesha opens up about film Boom failure
Eventually, they exited the deal with great profit. Some opted out, and Ayesha saw it as the right time to move on. But what did they do next? That’s where their 2002 film Boom comes in, a bold production that starred Amitabh Bachchan, Jackie, Gulshan Grover, Bo Derek and introduced a young Katrina Kaif. Unfortunately, the film was pirated before its release and failed at the box office, pushing the couple into bankruptcy.
“We made Boom. Not with all of that (Sony) money, but with a little bit of it,” Ayesha explained. “It was just bad luck that the film got pirated and we lost a lot of money.”
Despite the financial loss, Ayesha doesn’t regret making Boom, calling it “ahead of its time.” The film had an international cast, including Katrina Kaif at just 17, Padma Lakshmi, and even appearances from Salman Rushdie, who was "dating" Lakshmi at the time.
Today, the Shroffs are best known as the proud parents of Bollywood star Tiger Shroff.
How Jackie and Ayesha invested in Sony Entertainment television?
Ayesha, who was Miss Young India 1980 and later turned actress and producer, has been a steady force behind Jackie’s journey. Together, they launched Jackie Shroff Entertainment Limited, and even owned stake in Sony Entertainment Television when it launched in India.
During a recent conversation with Zero1 Hustle by Zerodha, Ayesha opened up about how the Sony deal came together, and how it saved them from complete financial ruin later. Calling it a 'fantastic experience' she shared that it was her first encounter with a whole corporate structure, and that too, was Sony.
Ayesha explained how their team of seven people brought different strengths to the table, Jackie brought his stardom, others brought business and tech expertise. But convincing Sony to sign on with them took time and effort.
“We tried to woo the company for a whole year. That experience was very exciting, the going back and forth on the deal, the due diligence, the paperwork,” she said. Then came the unexpected turning point, a huge Bollywood party. Ayesha suggested Jackie to throw a grand party to impress Sony’s international executives, inviting the biggest names in Bollywood.
It worked. The party, held at RG’s club on Marine Drive, went on till 6 am. "And the next morning, a Sony executive from LA made a call and the papers were signed the very next day," said Ayesha.
Going forward, she also talked about the returns, which was beyond anything they expected. Describing it as the 'best investment' they have ever made, Ayesha revealed, "It was much more than that, and if you apply that concept to the deal, it was like Rs 1 lakh to Rs 100 crore back then. I don’t think I would have stayed even if the partners wanted to stay on. It was time to leave."
For the unversed, they sold their shares and ended their 15-year partnership with the channel.
Ayesha opens up about film Boom failure
Eventually, they exited the deal with great profit. Some opted out, and Ayesha saw it as the right time to move on. But what did they do next? That’s where their 2002 film Boom comes in, a bold production that starred Amitabh Bachchan, Jackie, Gulshan Grover, Bo Derek and introduced a young Katrina Kaif. Unfortunately, the film was pirated before its release and failed at the box office, pushing the couple into bankruptcy.
“We made Boom. Not with all of that (Sony) money, but with a little bit of it,” Ayesha explained. “It was just bad luck that the film got pirated and we lost a lot of money.”
Despite the financial loss, Ayesha doesn’t regret making Boom, calling it “ahead of its time.” The film had an international cast, including Katrina Kaif at just 17, Padma Lakshmi, and even appearances from Salman Rushdie, who was "dating" Lakshmi at the time.
Today, the Shroffs are best known as the proud parents of Bollywood star Tiger Shroff.
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