Film fraternity mourns death of Nana Patekar
Mumbai, Oct 8 (UNI) The news of Nana Patekar's death has left the film industry in shock, with several actors and filmmakers recalling the veteran performer and the mark he left on Indian cinema.
Akshay Kumar, who worked with Patekar in 'Welcome' and 'Housefull 5', remembered him as an actor who never had to overdo a performance to hold an audience's attention. Taking to his X handle, he captioned, "I feel fortunate that we got to work together in 'Welcome', and then again more recently in 'Housefull 5'. There are so many memories from those sets that I'll always hold close. Nana ji was truly one of a kind. It's hard to believe you're gone. Thank you for all the memories. You will be missed more than words can say."
Filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma expressed disbelief over Patekar's sudden death. He wrote, "YES, everybody knows nobody is immortal ... But I still can't believe this can so suddenly happen to a man, as strong as him ... I hate his heart for failing him and I feel like killing GOD for killing the GOD of acting, NANA PATEKAR." Riteish Deshmukh, who shared the screen with the actor in 'Bluffmaster' and 'Housefull 5', said he was deeply shaken by Patekar's death. He praised Patekar's ability to take on vastly different roles, from larger-than-life heroes and intimidating villains to understated comedy. Riteish added, "An actor par excellence, incomparable to anyone, he carved his place in people's hearts with his own unique style and brand of acting. There wasn't a role or a character he couldn't perform. He aced it all - a larger-than-life hero, a terrifying villain or be it his poker-faced comedy. He was a hero off-screen too, and worked tirelessly through his charity for the good of the people."
Jr NTR paid tribute to Patekar as one of Indian cinema's finest actors. He penned, "Deeply saddened by the passing of Nana Patekar sir, one of Indian cinema's finest actors. There was an unmistakable honesty and intensity in every character he portrayed. His performances never felt like acting, but life unfolding on screen. A remarkable artist whose contribution to Indian cinema will be remembered for generations." Actor Adil Hussain said he was left speechless after waking up to the news. Paying tribute to Patekar, he recalled the veteran actor's influence on his own work and said he would remember him with great affection.
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