Nana Patekar, the veteran actor known for his intense roles and unmistakable voice, died on October 8 at the age of 75 after a cardiac arrest at his home in Goa. His son, Malhar Patekar, confirmed the news. He was found unconscious at his Dona Paula residence and taken to Manipal Hospital, where doctors attempted revival with cardiac massage for 45 minutes before he was declared dead.
Rohit Shetty’s tribute
Filmmaker Rohit Shetty, who directed Patekar in the 2017 horror comedy Golmaal Again, shared a personal tribute on Instagram. He remembered late-night calls that began without pleasantries. Patekar would simply ask “Aye Shetty, kya kar raha hai?” and Shetty would tease him by pretending not to recognise the voice.
Shetty described Patekar as his biggest critic and a strong supporter at the same time. After each release, Patekar would tell him plainly whether a film was good, bad, superhit or an attempted hit. He also reminded Shetty that he was a star himself and did not need so many other stars in every film.
The cameo fee that became a donation
The most striking detail in Shetty’s note concerned Golmaal Again. When Shetty asked about his fee for the cameo, Patekar refused to take any money. He told Shetty to donate the amount to an orphanage instead. Shetty wrote that the response was “Straight. Unfiltered. Generous. And always genuine.”
- Patekar appeared as himself in Golmaal Again in a brief but instantly recognisable cameo.
- His distinctive voice became a running gag: whenever a character was possessed, they would mimic Patekar’s delivery.
- Late-night calls and blunt feedback made him a mentor-like presence for Shetty.
In an industry where cameo fees are usually a straightforward negotiation, the gesture stands out. Patekar turned the conversation away from money and toward a cause, without making a fuss about it.
Why the story matters
This is more than a small anecdote about a fee. It shows how Patekar approached relationships and work: direct, unsentimental and generous. For Hindi film fans, it is also a reminder of how much presence he could create in very little screen time.
Patekar’s role in Golmaal Again was short, but the film kept him present throughout its comedy. Even off screen, his voice was part of the joke, imitated by characters the moment they got possessed. With his death, the film becomes an easy way to revisit that presence—and the actor who asked that his cameo money go to children in need.
Source: Hindustan Times