Nana Patekar

Vishwanath “Nana” Patekar (born January 1, 1951) is an acclaimed Indian actor, filmmaker, and philanthropist known for his versatile roles in Hindi and Marathi cinema, rugged style, and social activism. Learn his biography, film journey, activism, controversies, and quotes.

Introduction

Nana Patekar is one of Indian cinema’s most powerful, intense, and respected performers. With a career spanning several decades, he has delivered memorable performances across genres—lawyers, gangsters, politicians, tragic figures—and earned both popular and critical acclaim. Beyond acting, he is known for his philanthropic work (especially for farmers) and a reputation for speaking his mind. His life and work reflect a blend of artistic commitment, social conscience, and complexity.

Early Life and Family

Nana Patekar was born Vishwanath Patekar on 1 January 1951 in Murud-Janjira, in the then Bombay State (now in Maharashtra).

He attended Samarth Vidyalaya, Dadar West, Mumbai, and later a school of arts in Bandra (now L. S. Raheja School of Art). Sir J. J. Institute of Applied Art in Mumbai.

His childhood was marked by hardship: according to interviews, he experienced hunger and humiliation early in life, and has recounted that those struggles shaped his emotional reservoir as an actor.

He grew up in a large family; some of his siblings died young. (Some sources say he had six siblings, of which five passed away.) Gajanan Patekar, was involved in the textile business; his mother, Nirmala Patekar, was a homemaker.

Education & Early Career

After completing his diploma in commercial art, Nana initially worked as a visualiser/artist in advertising before shifting to theatre and acting.

He made his film acting debut with Gaman (1978) in Hindi cinema.

His early roles were largely character roles, often in smaller films, gradually building his reputation through persistence and scene-stealing performances.

Major Career Highlights & Acting Style

Breakthrough & Iconic Roles

• His role in Parinda (1989) earned him the National Film Award for Best Supporting Actor and a Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor.

• He delivered highly acclaimed performances in Krantiveer (1994) (for which he won the National Film Award for Best Actor) and Agni Sakshi (1996).

• In the 2000s, performances in Ab Tak Chhappan (2004), Apaharan (2005), and Raajneeti (2010) consolidated his image as an actor willing to take edgy, serious roles.

• He also showed his comic and mass-appeal side with Welcome (2007) and Welcome Back (2015), as the crime don Uday Shetty.

• In Marathi cinema, his role in Natsamrat (2016) as an aging stage actor was widely acclaimed, earning him a Filmfare Marathi award.

Military Connection & Public Service

Interestingly, Nana Patekar also served in the Indian Territorial Army. He was commissioned as an honorary captain and took part in training (notably for his directorial film Prahaar). Kargil War (1999), he worked with the Maratha Light Infantry. Lieutenant Colonel.

Philanthropy & Social Activism

Nana has been active in social causes, especially supporting farmers in Maharashtra. He co-founded Naam Foundation (with Makarand Anaspure) to assist farmers affected by drought.

He has donated film earnings to relief, distributed money directly to families of farmer suicides, and contributed to flood relief and drought relief projects.

He is also known for leading a fairly simple personal lifestyle despite his fame.

Controversies

• Sexual harassment allegations: In 2008, actress Tanushree Dutta accused Patekar of harassment on the sets of Horn ‘Ok’ Pleassss. The allegation resurfaced during the #MeToo movement in 2018.

• At times, his outspoken style and blunt remarks have sparked debate and criticism, but he is also respected for his honesty and unwillingness to mince words.

Personality & Artistic Approach

Nana Patekar is celebrated for his intensity, raw emotional energy, and ability to portray flawed, complex characters. He often walks the fine line between being empathetic and fearsome onscreen.

He is known for speaking truth to power and refusing to conform to typical star behavior. Many note that his early life of struggle gave him emotional depth and a reservoir to draw from in performance.

He has said in interviews that he was shaped by “hunger” and humiliation, and that acting is partly survival, putting one’s emotional life on display.

His style often combines silence, tension, controlled aggression, and emotional bursts—making him memorable even in supporting roles.

Famous Quotes

Here are several memorable quotes attributed to Nana Patekar:

• “We should judge by talent and work, not by community or caste.”

• “There is a difference between being straightforward and being careless.”

• “I have always felt that promoting somebody else’s mistake as a superlative product is not my cup of tea.”

• From his film dialogues: “Everyone has become habituated to live life as a dog.” (from Krantiveer)

• From Wajood, one dialogue: “Har koi degree, diploma le, engineer bane… yeh koi zaroori nahi …” (“It’s not necessary that everyone takes a degree or diploma and becomes an engineer…”)

These quotes reflect his directness, social conscience, and resistance against superficiality.

Lessons & Legacy

• Depth over glitz: Nana’s career shows the power of choosing challenging, meaningful roles instead of always chasing popularity.

• Life informs art: His early hardships, sensibilities, and personal integrity inform his performances in profound ways.

• Use platform for social good: Through Naam Foundation and direct intervention, he demonstrates that artists can also be agents of change.

• Courage of voice: He is unafraid to speak candidly—even at personal cost—on matters of society, ethics, and art.

• Consistency & evolution: Over decades, he has re-invented himself (actor, director, social worker) yet preserved an authentic core.