Veteran actor and filmmaker Nana Patekar passed away at the age of 75 after suffering a severe cardiac arrest at his residence in Goa. He was cremated with full state honours at his farmhouse in Pune. Following his death, a conversation from 2024 has resurfaced, in which the actor shared a personal memory about his mother’s response to one of his biggest professional achievements.
Nana Patekar recalled his mother’s reaction to his National Award
During a conversation with his close friend and fellow actor Anil Kapoor in 2024, Nana Patekar spoke about his career and personal experiences. One memory concerned his National Film Award for his performance in ‘Parinda’ (1989), a film that earned him significant recognition. However, his mother’s reaction to the achievement was far from what one might expect. Nana explained that his mother had little interest in awards or financial success following the death of his father. Recalling her priorities, he said, “After my father passed away, my mother didn’t really concern herself with such matters. Whether I won an award or earned money, it made no difference to her because her entire world was my father.”
Why Nana Patekar’s mother questioned his award
The actor also explained that his mother did not understand the significance of receiving a National Award. She judged his work through her own perspective rather than the recognition it received from the film industry. Nana Patekar remembered her blunt response after he won the honour. He said, “When I won the National Award, my mother didn’t quite understand its significance. She would say, ‘They have no sense of whom to give an award to. Such dirty, despicable work doesn’t deserve an award.’ Being from a rural background, she wasn’t connected to these things. However, my family never stopped me, never discouraged me.”
Nana Patekar acknowledged his family’s support
Although his mother did not appreciate the award, Nana Patekar made it clear that his family had never discouraged his career. Nana Patekar began his film career with ‘Gaman’ in 1978 and went on to establish himself in Hindi and Marathi cinema. His performance in ‘Parinda’ became one of the notable milestones in his career. He later earned recognition for films such as ‘Prahaar’, ‘Krantiveer’, ‘Ab Tak Chhappan’, ‘Raajneeti’ and ‘Welcome’.In the later years of his career, Nana Patekar appeared in films including ‘Vanvaas’ and ‘Housefull 5’. He also starred in Vishal Bhardwaj’s ‘O’ Romeo’, released in February 2026, and Prakash Jha’s ‘Sankalp’.
