Shah Rukh Khan, Manisha Koirala remember Nana Patekar as old stories resurface

Nana Patekar died on Thursday, October 8, at his home in Goa. He was 75. He was cremated with full state honours at his farmhouse in Donje village near Pune late that night. His associates said that was where he had wanted his last rites held.

Shah Rukh Khan posted a tribute on X, calling him a mentor, teacher, critic and friend. At their first meeting, he wrote, he nervously fiddled with his hair, and Nana slapped his hand away and said, "Hero ki tarah baal mat bana... tu actor hai!" The two worked together in Raju Ban Gaya Gentleman, released in 1992.

Years earlier, Shah Rukh told the story of how Nana got him out of jail. Early in his career he was arrested after he confronted a journalist over a magazine story. He said Nana finally secured his bail through a weekend evening court.

Manisha Koirala wrote on Instagram that she was deeply saddened by the loss of a great actor and a true stalwart of the craft. She starred with him in Khamoshi and Agni Sakshi, and Agni Sakshi won Nana a National Film Award.

An old interview with Katrina Kaif is also being shared again. In Prakash Jha's Raajneeti, she had to walk on stage and give a speech in front of 2,000 to 3,000 people, and she said her hands were shaking. Nana, who played the political strategist Brij Gopal, told her, "It's fine. It's going to be fine."

A clip of Nana talking about Hindu-Muslim unity is circulating too. He remembered walking alone through Muslim neighbourhoods, where people would ask him what he wanted to eat even at 3 or 4 in the morning. He blamed politicians for turning neighbours who had lived side by side for years against each other.