Filmmaker N. Chandra has remembered his longtime association with Nana Patekar. Filmmaker N. Chandra has remembered his longtime association with Nana Patekar, describing the actor’s death as a deeply personal loss. Nana Patekar died at the age of 75 after suffering a severe cardiac arrest at his home in Goa. His death has prompted tributes from colleagues across the film industry.In an interview with The Free Press Journal, N. Chandra recalled how their professional relationship began with ‘Ankush’ and continued through two more films. He also spoke about Nana Patekar’s charitable work, his love for the armed forces, and his interests beyond acting.
N. Chandra says Nana Patekar’s death is a personal loss
N. Chandra said he was still struggling to come to terms with the actor’s death. He described the loss as significant not only for cinema and theatre but also for farmers and society. The filmmaker also highlighted Nana Patekar’s contribution through charity.”I am still in a state of shock! What can I say about this very personal loss? Cinema, theater, farmers, his death is a severe loss to all. His charity work was huge. And he had so much to give to society. He went too early.”
How ‘Ankush’ brought them together
The filmmaker traced their association to ‘Ankush’, which became a turning point for both of them. N. Chandra was initially considering another Marathi actor for the film, but the proposed remuneration exceeded his budget. Anil Mattoo, who was part of the project, recommended Nana Patekar after watching his performance in the Marathi play ‘Purush’.N. Chandra subsequently watched the play and decided to cast him. The film had a budget of just Rs 12 lakh, and Nana Patekar accepted the Rs 10,000 offered for the role. Although he had appeared in smaller parts in Hindi films, including B. R. Chopra’s ‘Aaj Ki Awaz’, ‘Ankush’ marked his first leading role in a film.After ‘Ankush’, N. Chandra cast Nana Patekar in ‘Pratighaat’. The actor played an honest police officer who loses his sanity after his wife is raped by the antagonist. Their association continued with the 1998 film ‘Wajood’, in which Nana Patekar played a struggling artiste opposite Madhuri Dixit-Nene.Recalling the three films they made together, N. Chandra said:”Our association began with Ankush, for which I was considering a Marathi star, who asked for a remuneration way beyond my budget. Anil Mattoo, who was in my film, had watched Nana’s searing performance as the antagonist in the Marathi play, Purush, and recommended Nana’s name. I watched the play and signed him. My film’s was just Rs. 12 lakh and he readily took the Rs 10,000 that I offered him. Nana had earlier done small roles in Hindi and B.R. Chopra’s film, Aaj Ki Awaz, as villain, but Ankush was his first film as hero. And while he became a known lead actor in Hindi cinema with Ankush, I became known as a successful producer-director.I then cast Nana in a parallel role to protagonist Sujata Mehta in Pratighaat. He played the honest policeman who loses his sanity when his wife is raped by the villain. And in 1998, he was my hero, playing a struggling artiste, with Madhuri Dixit-Nene opposite him, in Wajood. How many filmmakers have had the honour and privilege of working with Nana Patekar thrice?”
Nana Patekar’s love for the armed forces
N. Chandra also recalled the actor’s admiration for the armed forces. That interest inspired Nana Patekar to write and direct ‘Prahaar’, for which he underwent military training. The filmmaker said the actor also enjoyed music, painting, sketching and rifle-shooting. “Nana loved music, painting, sketching and also learnt rifle-shooting. He was so warm and like a child. And I still cannot believe he is no more, for our bond is forever.”Nana Patekar cremated with full state honoursNana Patekar’s last rites were conducted with full state honours at his Pune farmhouse. He was accorded a three-gun salute. According to NDTV, doctors declared him dead at 5:20 am after attempting to revive him for nearly 45 minutes following his arrival for medical treatment.