Nana Patekar’s death leaves Naseeruddin Shah mourning missed collaboration

Veteran actor Nana Patekar, who died at 75 on Thursday, left fellow star Naseeruddin Shah with deep regret for never having shared the screen with him. Shah, known for his role in A Wednesday, said he loved and admired Patekar and that the missed collaboration weighed on him. The two legends worked in Indian cinema and theatre for more than four decades but only briefly crossed paths in Anees Bazmee’s 2015 comedy Welcome Back. Gul Panag, who acted opposite Patekar in the 2015 sequel Ab Tak Chhappan 2, called the late star large‑hearted, giving, and exceptionally fit, and expressed shock at his passing. She recalled playing crime reporter Shalu Dixit while Patekar reprised Inspector Sadhu Agashe, a role inspired by real‑life encounter specialist Daya Nayak. Screenwriter Anjum Rajabali noted that many crew members found Patekar’s on‑set demeanor volatile and abrasive, yet his talent always dazzled audiences. Rajabali described a heated argument during the Raajneeti (2010) promotion tour, which ended with Patekar apologising after being asked to retract harsh words. Despite that tension, Patekar later invited Rajabali and a director friend to his Pune farmhouse, where he cooked mutton curry and shared stories. Rajabali praised Patekar’s deep knowledge of theatre and Natya shastra, calling him a uniquely complex personality who remained in high demand despite his difficult temperament. Patekar’s earlier collaborations included Prakash Jha’s political thriller Raajneeti, where he played Brij Gopal, a character based on Krishna, and the 2005 crime drama Apaharan.

Context

Both actors are celebrated for intense, realistic performances that have shaped modern Hindi cinema. Their long careers often intersected with the same directors and writers, making their lack of a full‑length joint project notable for fans.