Mumbai: Nana Patekar, 75, who died on Thursday, October 8, leaving behind a remarkable body of work across Hindi and Marathi cinema, theatre and filmmaking. The actor allegedly suffered a major heart attack at his home in Dona Paula, Goa.
Patekar was one of the most respected names in both the Hindi and Marathi film industries. Apart from acting, he wrote and directed films and was deeply involved in charitable work. Over the years, he received several awards for performances in films such as Parinda, Krantiveer, Apaharan and Welcome. His contribution to cinema was also recognised with the Padma Shri. Patekar was also supposed to act in an Odia biopic on ‘padmashri chaiwala’ Devarapalli Prakash Rao. But the film didn’t materialise. According to reports, Odia filmmaker Ramesh Barik had approached him for playing the role of Prakash Rao. But the producer said the actor couldn’t give time later.
Beyond his celebrated screen career, however, Patekar’s life was marked by hardship, discipline, independence and a strong connection with ordinary people. Here are some lesser-known facts about the veteran actor.
He Worked From A Very Young Age
Patekar’s journey to stardom began with considerable financial hardship. His father lost his business, forcing the young Patekar to start earning while he was still in school.
He painted cinema posters and zebra crossings to make money and later worked as a commercial artist and visualiser. At one point, he earned just Rs 35 a day and survived on a single meal.
In December 2024, while speaking to Siddharth Kannan, Patekar recalled those difficult years, saying, “I started working at the age of 13. So I turned 30 very early in life.”
The hardship left a lasting impression on him. In a 2015 interview, he recalled visiting friends around mealtimes in the hope that someone would invite him to eat. He also remembered saying that there could be no fragrance better for him than that of a chapati.
His Early Life Was Shaped By Theatre
Patekar’s father played an important role in developing his interest in performance. He would take his son to plays and watch him perform.
Patekar later credited theatre director Vijaya Mehta with helping shape him as an actor. Theatre initially offered him a world in which he was comfortable, even as cinema remained an uncertain possibility.
His transition to films was encouraged by actor Smita Patil. Patekar later credited her with helping bring him into Gaman, which was released in 1978.
Underwent Military Training For Prahaar
One of the most remarkable chapters of Patekar’s career came while preparing for the film Prahaar. He underwent a strict three-year army training programme for the movie.
The army subsequently honoured him with the honorary rank of Captain. His association with the armed forces went beyond the film, as he actually served in the army after completing the shooting of Prahaar.
The experience also became part of the explanation for the discipline that characterised his professional life.
His Son Had To find His Own Way
Patekar has a son, Malhar, who also works as an actor. Despite having considerable influence in the entertainment industry, Nana Patekar chose not to use his position to help his son establish himself.
He believed that Malhar should face his own struggles, work hard and create an independent identity in the film industry.
For Patekar, success was something that had to be earned rather than inherited.
He Is Known For His Cooking
Away from cameras and film sets, Patekar has another passion: cooking.
The actor cooks exceptionally well and enjoys preparing different kinds of cuisines. Whenever possible, he prefers making his own food. He also enjoys inviting friends over and preparing dishes for them, often experimenting with different recipes.
He Began As A Commercial Artist
Born Vishwanath Patekar on January 1, 1951, in Murud-Janjira, Maharashtra, he studied art in Mumbai.
Before becoming a recognised actor, he worked on cinema posters and later as a commercial artist and visualiser. Theatre eventually drew him away from the relative security of a regular job and set him on the path that would define his career.
Parinda Changed His Standing In Cinema
Patekar’s career gradually moved from theatre and early films into roles that established him as one of India’s most formidable performers.
He appeared in films including Ankush, Salaam Bombay! and Parinda. In Mira Nair’s Salaam Bombay!, he played Baba, while Vidhu Vinod Chopra’s Parinda saw him portray the feared crime boss Anna.
His performance in Parinda earned him his first National Film Award.
He developed a reputation for playing intense, socially rooted characters whose presence could dominate a film without losing connection with its larger social setting.
He Turned His Attention To Farmer Distress
Patekar’s contribution extended beyond cinema. In September 2015, he and actor Makarand Anaspure established the NAAM Foundation in response to drought and farmer distress in Maharashtra.
The foundation’s work has included water conservation, restoration of canals and support for village development. For an actor whose own childhood was marked by financial hardship, his later involvement in issues affecting rural communities became another significant part of his legacy.
