Actor Jackie Shroff says the secret to his enduring popularity with Gen Z is deceptively simple — he refuses to let age define how he engages with people. The veteran star made the revelation during promotions of his upcoming film 'The Great Grand Superhero', set to release in cinemas on 29 May 2026, in Mumbai.

What Shroff Said About His Open-Energy Philosophy

Speaking alongside the film's director Manish Saini, Shroff explained his approach to human connection in candid terms. 'I'm open to all. I don't shut down my energy. I mean, I don't say, he's 80 years old and she's 8 years old. For me, I keep my energy open. So I blend with people in their interest. And by getting into their interest, then they come into my interest areas,' he said.

He elaborated further: 'We tell our story, they tell their story. But at least open yourself. Accept a human being, not their age. Everyone knows more than us. So, open up. Meet openly and embrace people.' The sentiment captures a generational fluidity that, according to Shroff, is not a performance but a lived practice.

Why the Superhero Grandfather Role Resonated

Shroff revealed that his character — a superhero grandfather — mirrors his real-life outlook. 'A grandfather playing a grandfather and having an equation with a grandchild like a friend. That's something which I am. I talk to a child like he's me. I don't see the difference. There's no generation gap,' he said.

The concept itself drew him in. A superhero grandfather, he noted, was 'unheard of in Hindi cinema' until this project took shape. Shroff also cited his trust in director Saini — a three-time National Award winner — as a decisive factor. 'A gentleman who's got three national awards. It's the right kind to totally blindly trust. And he trusting me, it's an honour for me. It's a privilege for me. So there was no way that I couldn't do this film,' he said.

The Film and Its Release

'The Great Grand Superhero' is directed by Manish Saini and is scheduled to hit cinemas on 29 May 2026. The film marks a novel premise in mainstream Hindi cinema — a grandfather as the central superhero figure — and positions Shroff in a role that blurs the line between generational mentor and action hero.

Notably, Shroff has built a cult following among younger audiences in recent years, partly through his distinctive persona on social media and his effortless, unfiltered public presence. This film appears designed to capitalise on that cross-generational appeal.

What to Watch

With its 29 May 2026 release, 'The Great Grand Superhero' enters a competitive summer window. How the film's unique premise translates at the box office — particularly with younger multiplex audiences — will be closely watched by the industry.