10 Lesser-Known Facts About Nana Patekar’s Life, Career and Family

The Indian film industry is mourning the sudden death of veteran actor Nana Patekar. He died at the age of 75 on October 8 after suffering a heart attack. He reportedly fell ill at his home in Goa, following which a team of doctors arrived there. He was later taken to a private hospital in Dona Paula, where doctors declared him dead at 5:20 a.m.

Across a career spanning nearly five decades, Nana Patekar earned a special place in the hearts of audiences with his distinctive acting style. But away from the screen, his life was equally remarkable, marked by financial struggles, personal tragedies, diverse interests and a strong commitment to the things he believed in.

Here are 10 lesser-known facts about his life and career.

1. His real name was Vishwanath Patekar

Nana Patekar was born Vishwanath Patekar on January 1, 1951, in Murud-Janjira, Maharashtra. The nickname “Nana,” given to him during childhood, eventually became the name by which he was known across India.

2. He started working at just 13

Long before becoming an actor, Nana had to work to support himself. At around 13, while still in school, he began painting movie posters in Mumbai’s Chunabhatti area.

He reportedly earned only Rs 35 a month from the job and had to walk several kilometres to reach his workplace. He also worked on painting zebra crossings.

Nana later spoke about how hunger, financial hardship and humiliation during those early years shaped his understanding of life and influenced his approach to acting.

3. His wife supported him during his struggling years

Nana married Neelakanti Patekar in 1978. At the time, she worked at a bank and was financially more stable than Nana.

During the early phase of his acting career, his earnings from theatre were extremely modest. He once recalled receiving around Rs 50 for a play, while his wife earned about Rs 2,500 a month.

Nana wanted to continue pursuing acting despite the financial uncertainty. Neelakanti encouraged him to stay committed to the work he believed in, telling him that it would eventually bring financial rewards.

Although the couple later lived separately, they were never legally divorced.

4. He lost his elder son at the age of two and a half

One of the most painful chapters of Nana’s personal life was the death of his elder son, Durvasa. The child died at around two and a half years of age after suffering from several health complications from birth.

Years later, Nana spoke about the experience and admitted that, in the early days of his son’s illness, he was more concerned about what other people would think than about his child’s suffering. He said the realization deeply affected him later in life.

Nana and Neelakanti later had another son, Malhar Patekar.

5. He once smoked up to 60 cigarettes a day

Nana was once heavily addicted to smoking. In various interviews, he revealed that he could smoke as many as 60 cigarettes a day.

He reportedly smoked throughout much of the day and even spoke about smoking while taking a shower. At one point, the smell of cigarettes inside his car became so strong that people were reluctant to sit inside it, he recalled.

6. Cooking was one of his passions

Away from films, cooking was one of Nana’s favourite activities. He not only enjoyed preparing food but also loved feeding others.

In a 2015 interview, he recalled cooking for entire film crews during shoots. On one occasion, he had experience preparing food for a unit of around 110 people.

Nana’s passion for cooking was so strong that he once said he considered himself a better cook than an actor.

7. He has a deep connection with farming

Despite his busy career in cinema, Nana has maintained a strong interest in farming. He had a farm near Sinhagad Fort in Maharashtra.

He grew crops such as rice, peanuts, garlic and onions there. His interest in agriculture also extended beyond his personal life, as he worked on issues affecting farmers.

His Naam Foundation has also worked to support farmers in drought-affected parts of Maharashtra.

8. His connection with the Indian Army went beyond the screen

Nana’s association with the military was not limited to playing army-related characters in films.

Before starring in the 1991 film ‘Prahaar: The Final Attack’, he joined the Territorial Army and underwent military training. He later received a commission as a captain and was associated with the Maratha Light Infantry.

Reports have also noted that during the 1999 Kargil War, Nana expressed his willingness to serve alongside the armed forces.

9. He did not push his son directly into acting

Nana’s son Malhar Patekar was also interested in the film industry. However, Nana did not use his own star status to launch him directly as an actor.

Nana was reportedly working on a sequel to ‘Ab Tak Chhappan’, where Malhar had an opportunity to act, but Nana did not approve the idea.

Malhar eventually moved toward filmmaking rather than acting and also worked as an assistant with filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma.

10. His struggles shaped his identity

From financial hardship during childhood to his early days in theatre, family life and personal tragedy, Nana Patekar experienced several difficult phases before establishing himself as one of Indian cinema’s most distinctive actors.

His love for cooking and farming, along with his association with the armed forces, also reflected a personality far more diverse than the characters he played on screen.

Nana Patekar’s life was therefore much more than a story of cinematic success. It was a journey shaped by struggle, loss, resilience and an unwavering commitment to the work he believed in.