Three decades on, Nana Patekar’s dialogues still feel uncomfortably relevant

Nana Patekar, a fierce talent, was equally infamous for his temper. At the age of 20, he watched Dr Sriram Lagoo play the lead role in Natsamrat 25 times before taking on the role of the aging Ganpat “Appa” Belwalkar. When interviewed in 2016, he spoke passionately about acting and candidly admitted to being difficult and prone to outbursts.

Patekar's reputation for volatility even affected his career, with people in the industry hesitating to work with him. Despite this, he delivered a landmark performance in Natsamrat, winning a National Award for his portrayal of Anna Seth, the ruthless gangster. Patekar, now in his mid-60s, no longer sought fame or fortune, but enjoyed his work without many restrictions.

He had co-founded Naam Foundation, which focused on water conservation and farmer welfare. In 2018, Patekar faced accusations of sexual harassment by Tanushree Dutta, and while he continued working, his impact was less significant.