Nana Patekar, who was born Vishwanath Patekar in 1951, did not have the classic Bollywood dream debut. He had a number of small roles before finding relative stardom in the Marathi film Mimagaman (1978). It was N Chandra’s Ankush (1986), however, that propelled him to wider fame, as his energetic histrionics and powerful screen presence introduced the audiences to the type of actor who was used to playing non-conformist roles.
Questioning the status quo
Nana did not fit the bill when it came to the typical Bollywood heartthrob. Instead, he challenged the system and, with his powerful roles in Salaam Bombay! and critically acclaimed performance in Parinda, redefined the Hindi cinema’s understanding of a hero. A string of roles in Prahaar, Tiranga and Krantiveer then made him a superstar.
His performance in Krantiveer earned him the National Film Award for Best Actor, marking him out as one of Hindi cinema’s most respected performers.
Comic relief and beyond
Nana, however, did not want to be typecast as a serious hero or a villain. In the 2000s, Bluffmaster, Phir Hera Pheri and Hattrick showcased his range in the comic genre, while Welcome saw him take on a role that was so far removed from anything he had done before that Uday Shetty in Welcome could be seen as one of his most memorable performances.
Controversies and a long-lasting career
Nana’s career has been fraught with controversies as well, most notably the Tanushree Dutta allegations of sexual harassment during the filming of Horn ‘Ok’ Pleassss. He has consistently denied the allegations, which were eventually found to be false, with the police filing a B-summary report in the case.
Despite that, Nana continued to enjoy his status as one of the biggest stars in the industry. He has starred in both mainstream and critical hits, including Rajneeti , Natsamrat and Ab Tak Chhappan 2.
For almost half a century, Nana Patkae has been a byword for versatility on screen, being able to balance between comic and serious roles effortlessly. He has been a hero or a villain, a character actor or a superstar – but most importantly, he has always been an actor at heart.