For more than a decade, audiences have known him as Tiger Shroff, the action star of Heropanti, the Baaghi franchise and War. But the name on his birth certificate is Jai Hemant Shroff. The screen name came from an unusual childhood habit: he used to bite people.
That piece of Bollywood trivia is circulating again in a week dominated by serious news. On Sunday evening, three men on motorcycles allegedly opened fire at the actor’s vehicle in Mumbai. Tiger escaped serious injury, while his driver and an auto-rickshaw driver were hit and are said to be stable.
How Jai Hemant became Tiger
Born on March 2, 1990, to Jackie Shroff and Ayesha Shroff, Tiger was named Jai Hemant. The name came from family: his father’s real name is Jai Kishen, and his uncle’s name is Hemant. In a May 2014 interview with Hindustan Times, the actor said his famous nickname was earned before he ever faced a camera. “I used to bite as a kid … like bite everyone around,” he said. The habit even got him punished at school after he bit a teacher.
He repeated the story on the YouTube channel Curly Tales in 2024 while promoting Bade Miyan Chote Miyan with Akshay Kumar. “I used to bite people when I was a kid and that is pretty much how I got my name,” he said, prompting Akshay to call the story amazing. The actor later made Tiger his official name for films.
What we know about the shooting
Mumbai Police formed 15 teams to trace the attackers after Sunday’s gunfire.
- Three suspects were detained in Kota and are being brought back to Mumbai, according to the report.
- Two men linked to the Lawrence Bishnoi gang — Anil Pandit and Harman Sandhu — claimed responsibility.
- Police are examining possible extortion links; Anil Pandit is reportedly wanted in more than 12 extortion cases in Haryana.
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde visited the actor. He said Tiger had injuries to his left hand from gunpowder and glass fragments, and that both the actor and his mother were shaken. Shinde assured the family of the state government’s support.
What’s next for the actor
Tiger made his debut in 2014 with Heropanti opposite Kriti Sanon and has built a career around action and dance. His upcoming films include Lag Ja Gale with Janhvi Kapoor, Rambo, and an action collaboration with Vidyut Jammwal.
For fans, the story behind the name is a reminder that the entertainment world’s biggest screen identities often begin as small, personal moments. The police investigation continues, and we will update as more is confirmed.
Source: Hindustan Times