Actor Paresh Rawal recently opened up about his long-time friend and co-star Nana Patekar, sharing a fascinating story about the actor’s fearless personality and unmatched confidence. He spoke about how Nana used to be very clear regarding his remuneration, and recalled an incident where Nana made a producer wash the utensils after a meal together.
In an interview with The Lallantop, Paresh Rawal emphasised that Nana was the first character actor in Hindi cinema to quote a fee of one crore rupees for a role. He was very straightforward in demanding that amount at a time when even mainstream heroes hesitated to do so. Paresh explained that Nana’s immense screen presence and credibility were so strong that producers willingly paid the sum he asked for.
Paresh also recalled another quirky moment that highlighted Nana’s no-nonsense attitude. He narrated a humorous incident involving a producer who was invited to Nana’s home. “There is a producer — I will not take his name. Nana told him to come home one day. He asked, ‘Do you eat mutton?’ He ate. Nana said, ‘You ate, right? Now go and clean the dishes.’ That is Nana Patekar —baap hai. He is different; that soil is different. He had demanded one crore rupees, and there was a ruckus. Heroes did not dare to ask for it; Nana Patekar asked and received it.”
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Paresh praised Nana’s raw honesty and unfiltered way of speaking. He further claimed that Nana would have spoken even more if he had been present at the interview. The camaraderie between the two actors dates back to 1994, when they shared the screen in ‘Krantiveer‘. Their collaboration continued with films such as ‘Ghulam-e-Mustafa’ (1997), ‘Aanch’ (2003), ‘Welcome’ (2007), and ‘Welcome Back’ (2015), forming a memorable on-screen duo appreciated for their powerful performances and unique chemistry. Even today, their bond remains strong, built on mutual respect and shared experiences. Fans continue to cherish their dynamic on-screen pairing and eagerly look forward to the possibility of seeing them reunite in future projects.
Nana Patekar was last seen in the 2024 film ‘Vanvaas’ which is a family drama directed by Anil Sharma. The film was released in theatres on December 20, 2024, and is streaming on OTT. The film also stars Utkarsh Sharma, Simrat Kaur, Khushbu Sundar, and Rajpal Yadav in key roles.
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