Made his acting debut in the early 70’s, Vishwanath Patekar or simply Nana Patekar is one of the finest actors the Bollywood has to offer. He won his first National Award from the movie Parinda (1989). He has acted in many famous Bollywood films and Marathi movies. Some of his popular Bollywood films include Krantiveer, Ab tak chappan, Prahar, Parinda, Apaharan, Rajneeti, Welcome, Tiranga, The Attacks of 26/11, Natsamrat. He has a unique acting style, a quite bit of unconventional, but powerful. He is famous for playing many sarcastic, capricious personality characters and his brash style of delivering his dialogues.
He has played many challenging and different roles through out his career, the character of deaf and mute Joseph Braganza in Khamoshi: The Musical which proved his ability as a versatile actor. An abusive husband in Agni Sakshi, a gangster in Ghulam-E-Mustafa, an encounter specialist cop Daya Nayak in Ab Tak Chappan, he has proved time and again why he’s a great actor, but yet he’s so underrated.
Nana Patekar is not just a great actor, but a great person too. He’s known for his simplicity and philanthropy. He helped the drought affected farmers of Maharashtra, saved their lives. He’s an example of how one person can do so much, make a difference.
So here are the 5 Things We Can Learn From Nana Patekar!
1. One person can make the difference
In 2015, Nana Patekar along with his friend Makarand Anaspure established an organization named Naam Foundation to help the drought affected farmers in Maharashtra. This organization distributed the cheques of financial aids to as many as 113 families of farmers. He would visit the drought affected families, talk to them, and console them. He appealed to the farmers, “If you ever think of committing suicide, please give me a call first,” Patekar appealed to all farmers”. Farmer suicide problem has been a growing and troubling issue in the country. Nana believes that he’s not doing a big deal, he’s just doing what everyone wants to do. He believes that 10 or 100 crore rupees won’t give him security, but helping the troubled farmers would provide him the security. After helping them he could feel secure that the human inside him is alive.
2. Showing off is easy, but being true to yourself is hard.
Nana Patekar was born to a lower middle class family, he has faced struggles, but it’s his hard work and commitment that he has become one of the talented and successful actors of the industry. When he wasn’t famous or successful, he earned for his survival through drawing zebra crossing lines on the busy Mumbai roads. Nana doesn’t believe in material possessions, he donates almost all his earnings to charity. He is a man of simplicity and humble lifestyle, he dresses simple, lives with his mother in a 1 BHK flat in Mumbai Suburbs. He is truly an inspiration for the youth.
3. Humanity is more important than any religion.
Nana is a straight forward person, he doesn’t mince his words, he speaks what’s on his mind and means what he says. Speaking once at a school function in Sindhudurga district, he said, “We all are Indians and that should be our only religion. What is the need to be called a Hindu, Muslim or Christian? Does anybody have any religion or caste at the time of birth?”. He reminded us that every religion ultimately preaches that god lies inside us, look for god in a human being. We all have a hero and a villain inside us, it comes down to us to make the choice. If we choose humanity, it will give us the satisfaction and peace. Nana Patekar was served the Indian army during the Kargil war and was honoured with the title of ‘Captain’.
4. Money can make a difference, but don’t let it make you different.
There was a time when Nana Patekar couldn’t even afford an auto rickshaw ride. And now with his success and fame, he can ride in luxurious cars, but he still prefers travelling in an auto-rickshaw. He’s an actor in front of the camera, but deep down he’s still the same simple ordinary person. He says that stardom is temporary, it will fade away one day and when it does, it will be difficult to deal life without it. So one must never forget where they came from, one must always remember their roots as they are a permanent part of your life.
5. The shopkeeper change problem!
Toffees are not a legal currency. Next time if the shopkeeper gives you toffees instead of the change, then just follow the Nana’s method. This Nana Patekar’s strategy will surely work out. So no more ‘chutta’ problems.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jBKSNTYD-uM