On a day when the industry was already mourning, Amitabh Bachchan turned the Kaun Banega Crorepati set into a space for remembrance. The host paused the show to pay tribute to Nana Patekar, who died on Thursday morning at 75. Patekar was at his Goa residence when he passed away, and he was later cremated with full state honours at his farmhouse in Pune.
In a video shared by Sony TV on Thursday night, Bachchan called Patekar an adwitiya kalakar—an incomparable artist—and spoke about the qualities that made him different.
A tribute built on candour and service
Bachchan did not keep the tribute general. He pointed to Patekar’s outspokenness, simplicity, and courage to call a spade a spade. “Some people leave our lives, but their voice, their philanthropy, and the lessons they taught remain within us,” he said. “Nana was one of those people.”
That framing mattered. Instead of only listing roles, Bachchan focused on what Patekar did away from the camera.
The KBC moment that stood out
Bachchan recalled Patekar’s appearance on KBC season 16, when the actor donated his prize money to social work. He said Patekar personally helped farmers in Maharashtra villages that had suffered because of inadequate rainfall. On a show built around money, the anecdote highlighted a different kind of win.
He closed with a direct address: “A personal salute to you, Nana. And a respectful bow to your art, which you lived with complete honesty and dedication.”
A five-decade body of work
Patekar’s career covered roughly five decades across Hindi and Marathi cinema. He won three National Awards and moved between acclaimed independent films and commercial blockbusters.
- Acclaimed dramas: Parinda, Krantiveer, Agni Sakshi, Natsamrat
- Pop-culture favourites: Welcome, Ab Tak Chhappan
Bachchan and Patekar had shared screen space in the 1999 action thriller Kohram, directed by Mehul Kumar. That history made the tribute feel less like a formal statement and more like a performer honouring a peer.
Why this resonates now
The tribute landed because it came from inside a working set, not from a prepared press note. It focused on actions that outlast stardom: truth-telling and direct help to people. For fans, it is an invitation to look beyond the famous roles and remember the social work that mattered to Patekar.
As his films continue to circulate, the tribute adds a simple frame: Nana Patekar’s legacy lives in the performances and in the people he supported.
Source: Hindustan Times
Comments