Juhi Chawla shares memories of working with Nana Patekar in classic films

Actor Juhi Chawla is remembering her time working alongside Nana Patekar in classic Bollywood movies like the 1992 hit Raju Ban Gaya Gentleman and the long-delayed 2000 crime drama Gang.

Memories On Set

Chawla says she always felt overawed by Patekar on the sets of Raju Ban Gaya Gentleman because he was a senior actor with a unique and iconic presence. She remembers him playing the dafli and singing the title song during the shoot. For the troubled production of Gang, which took years to complete, she recalls being nervous about a specific scene. Patekar sat her down, intimidated her, and gave her a long lecture on how to approach the acting.

Personal Recollections

Outside of work, Chawla visited Patekar's simple home in Dadar during the 1990s to attend Ganeshotsav celebrations. She remembers sitting on the floor to eat typical Maharashtrian food in thalis, noting that his mother made sure everyone ate before leaving. She describes him as legendary in his own rustic way, adding colour and character to every project.

Context

Bollywood actors often build lasting personal and professional memories through years of working together on complex film sets. Gatherings like Ganeshotsav at colleagues' homes have long been a common part of the film industry's cultural life in Mumbai.