Shroff was born Jaikishen Kakubhai Shroff in Udgir, Latur, Maharashtra. His father, Kakabhai Haribhai Shroff, was a Gujarati and his mother, Rita, was a Turk from Kazakhstan. They lived in the Teen Batti area of Malabar Hill, Mumbai. Before entering the film industry, he was a local toughie. He modelled in a few advertisements. It was director/producer Subhash Ghai who gave Shroff his screen name "Jackie" when he launched him in the film Hero.

 

Shroff was a judge on a magic show, India's Magic Star, broadcast on Indian channel Star One. The show began on 3 July 2010 and ended on 5 September 2010.