Nana Patekar, a renowned actor in Indian and Marathi cinema, passed away on October 8 at the age of 75 following a heart attack. Beginning his theatrical journey, he first appeared on the big screen in the film 'Gaman'. He later gained recognition for his performance in the film 'Salaam Bombay', which was nominated for an Academy Award. However, he achieved true fame with the film 'Parinda', for which he received a national award for best supporting male role. In the film 'Kantavir', he also received a national award for best male role.
Throughout his nearly fifty-year career, Patekar acted in many iconic films, including 'Hamoshi: The Musical' (1996), 'Ab Tak Chhappan' (2004), 'Apharan' (2005), and 'Rajneeti' (2010). In Marathi cinema, his role in 'Natsamarat' (2016) as a theatre pensioner was highly discussed. In 1991, he not only starred in the action film 'Prahar: The Final Attack' but also took on the duties of screenwriter and director.
A distinctive feature of Patekar's acting was that he did not merely play roles; he embodied the entire personality of the character, its complexities, and internal conflicts on screen. This is why, after the 2000s, he played numerous characters inspired by real people. Five such striking portrayals where Nana Patekar brought real individuals to life are presented below.
In the film 'Ab Tak Chhappan', Nana Patekar played Inspector Sadhu Agashe. This character was inspired by the life of Daya Nayak, a controversial specialist in crime elimination from the Mumbai police. In the 1990s, Daya Nayak allegedly carried out several eliminations during police operations against organized crime, making him known as an elimination specialist. Nevertheless, Daya Nayak himself denied this identity and the associated allegations.
Through the role of Sadhu Agashe in the film, Patekar raised issues concerning the police system, the criminal underworld, and actions within the law. His performance was highly praised by both critics and audiences. The film also achieved moderate box office success. In 2015, he reappeared as Sadhu Agashe in the sequel 'Ab Tak Chhappan 2'.
In the film 'The Attacks of 26/11', based on the terrorist attacks that occurred in Mumbai on November 26, 2008, Nana Patekar portrayed Rakesh Maria, the then Deputy Commissioner of Police of Mumbai. This film, directed by Ram Gopal Varma, was based on the book by former journalist Romal Rodrigues.
Rakesh Maria was among the high-ranking police officials who played a crucial role in the investigation and security forces' actions following the attacks. In the film, Patekar's character depicts details of the 26/11 events, as well as the interrogation process of the sole surviving terrorist, Ajmal Kasab. Patekar lent a special nuance to this character through his restrained and serious performance.
In the popular Marathi film 'Dr Prakash Baba Amte: The Real Hero', Nana Patekar played social worker and doctor Dr. Prakash Amte. Prakash Amte is the son of the renowned social figure Baba Amte. Along with his wife Mandakini Amte, he worked extensively in tribal areas in Gadchiroli district, Maharashtra state, providing medical services and promoting social development. Sonali Kulkarni played the role of Mandakini Amte.
The central theme of the film is the work of the Amte couple in the dense forests of Hemalkasa, their struggle among local tribes, and their efforts to deliver improved medical care and development. Prakash and Mandakini Amte were awarded the Ramana Magse award in 2008 for social leadership. In this picture, Nana Patekar depicted not some grand dramatic hero, but a person closely connected to the land, whose life was dedicated to service and social commitment.
In the film 'The Vaccine War', directed by Vivek Agnihotri, Nana Patekar played Dr. Balram Bhargava, the then Director of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). The film focuses on the process of developing the indigenous Covish shield vaccine in India during the COVID-19 pandemic and the efforts of scientists involved in this process.
In this picture, Nana Patekar presented a picture of scientific leadership, research, and an institution fighting the problems that arose during the epidemic. His performance received positive reviews, although the film was also criticized for its presentation. Some critics described it as resembling a public service announcement broadcast. 'The Vaccine War' is based on Dr. Balram Bhargava's book 'Going Viral'.
One of Nana Patekar's significant early roles was in the British television miniseries 'Lord Mountbatten: The Last Viceroy'. In the 1986 series, he played Nathuram Godse, the assassin of Mahatma Gandhi.