Showbiz and Cricket are two fields which Indians love, live and follow.
Showbiz kept on influencing people in multiple ways, good or bad whatever way it is, there is no denying that it has a significant impact on us.
My brush with Bollywood began during my school. There were star kids in my class. Few years later when I got married with a marine engineer, my craze of Bollywood movies elevated all the more. I used to watch movies while sailing for days. I remember watching a film, “Pratighat”. At that time, Nana Patekar was relatively a new actor and played a crazy guy in the movie and acted impressively well.
Later, I signed off from ship as I was pregnant. Upon my return to Mumbai, I was doing up my flat in Lokhandwala. I still recall entering the lift and one gentleman in a simple white pajama–kurta asked me to wait. He entered the life and lo and behold, he was Mr. Nana. I remembered the madman from ” Pratighat” and pushed myself in a corner. He seemed amused but said nothing. He alighted in third floor.
It took a few months but later we became good friends and now he is family.
Since 1986, I have seen his rise as an actor, his idiosyncrasies, his temper, his compassion towards his family, neighbours and friends and lastly his devotion towards social work. Actor or a star, he was beside me like a true friend and a well-wisher.
We all live life, but it becomes truly worthy with some beautiful people who make us believe in living at its best. Nana and I have been with each other through good and tough times together. There are many memorable moments with Nana but few are precious, the moments which have transformed me into all together a different person.
It was one day when I was watching his movie, PARINDA at home, I thought that Saurabh, my elder son was sleeping. But then without my knowledge, Saurabh came into my room. The scene where Nana was burning alive was going on and suddenly Saurabh began yelling, Nana Uncle mar gaya. Only when I called Nana, Saurabh became quiet. Nana advised me to be careful in future and not subject kids to watch violence.
There are three movies which are very close to his heart: Pratighat, Tiranga and Krantiveer. He got recognition from Pratighat; he got name from Tiranga and he received award for Krantiveer. He is undoubtedly a profound actor but as a villain, I appreciate him much for Parinda.
In April 1990 when my second son, Tushar was born, Nana came to see him. I mentioned that the baby is quite dark. He was offended and replied that his elder brothers are quite fair, and he is the dark in his family. But his mom is proud of him and proudly says that Nana is his son. Years later, when my son Tushar passed with 96% in his ICSE board exams. He came up to me and mentioned that the dark son has made you proud.
Later, I moved to Hong Kong. We still kept in touch. My husband suffered a brain stroke in 2014. The doctors had given up. But Nana never given up calling me up to inquire about his health.
Nana is a grounded person. He sits on the floor, eats with his hands, no spoon and keeps Ganpati for 10 days religiously every year. Upon asking, he replied that when he dies, he shall not be cremated on a Mercedes Benz. How true!
Author
Anita Dabral born in Ahmedabad, Gujrat and brought up in Mumbai. Her mom was a housewife, and dad was a Marine Engineer. Married to a Marine Engineer, she has two sons. She has moved to Hong Kong in 2004.
She has been teaching in Hong Kong since 2004. Presently, she is a Head Teacher in California School, Hong Kong.
