Javed Jaaferi has long been admired for his versatility as an actor, dancer and performer, but unlike many of his contemporaries, he never made it to Bollywood’s A-list. Looking back on his career, the actor believes that the reason has less to do with talent and more with the ecosystem of the industry, admitting that he did not play the PR game or align himself with influential groups.Jaaved was asked why he never achieved A-list status in the 1990s despite his popularity. Answering bluntly, he said in an interview with Screen, “I think it depends on how you’re packaged. There’s also PR involved because the industry has its own web. There are times when there’s something negative about you out there, so you need a reality check or something positive about you coming out.”Reflecting on his own choices, he added, “I failed to do that, in some ways. I’m also not part of any group. Also, if you have a big hit, no one will argue with you. No one talks like success. Like what happened in Salman Khan:. He entered with Biwi Ho Toh Aisi (1988), and people ignored him.Jaaved used Salman Khan’s career as an example of how a blockbuster can completely change an actor’s standing in the industry. “Then Maine Pyar Kiya (1989) happened, and then everyone ran after him. This is the same Salman Khan! It’s not like he did something different than what he did in Biwi Ho Toh Aisi. But it was only success. And then, of course, you grow with that. From that point of view, I never got a big hit,” he explained.When reminded that his debut film, Subhash Ghai‘Meri Jung’ (1985), was a commercial success and with his song ‘Bol Baby Bol’ becoming very popular, Jaaved pointed out that his introduction to the audience shaped the way the industry saw him. “I was launched as a villain! Subhash Ghai sahab was the most successful director then. NN Sippy sahab was one of the top producers then.”He goes on to explain that filmmakers continue to see him through that lens. “So, everyone thinks that if they consider me a villain, that’s what I should consider going forward. That judgment has already been passed. Prabhu Deva in the South. But they didn’t, and I didn’t give up on myself either. But I don’t think too much about it, really,” he concluded.On the work front, Jaaved Jaaferi is not reprising his role as Manav in ‘Dhamaal 4’. Directed by Indra Kumar, the comedy also stars Ajay Devgn, Riteish Deshmukh and Arshad Warsi. The film releases in theaters worldwide on July 10, 2026.