By Joginder Tuteja, Bollywood Trade News Network

When Vidhu Vinod Chopra went mainstream with PARINDA [1989], Jackie Shroff was the first actor to be taken on board.

Since then VVC has repeated him for his subsequent films like 1942-A LOVE STORY [1994] and MISSION KASHMIR [2000]. Though KAREEB [1998] did come in between, there was no role suitable for Jaggu dada in the film.

After MISSION KASHMIR, VVC concentrated on being a producer and came up with MUNNABHAI MBBS [2003], PARINEETA [2005] and LAGE RAHO MUNNABHAI [2006], none of which has Jackie Shorff starring in them.

But later when VVC wielded the megaphone once again after a hiatus, he didn't forget his good old buddy Jackie and penciled him in for a key role in EKLAVYA - THE ROYAL GUARD. Playing a villain again after MISSION KASHMIR, Jackie Shroff enacts the character of Jyotiwardhan, younger brother of Rana Jayawardhan [Boman Irani], in the film.

As Jaywardhan's Chief Advisor, Jyotiwardhan is a man who had always nurtured the ambition of being the man in charge of the royal fort and along with his son Udaywardhan [Jimmy Shergill] plots Rana's downfall.