Cinema VinesBollywood veteran Nana Patekar, whose reputation for a fiery temperament has long been a topic of discussion, has recently revealed a different side of his personality. According to screenwriter Ranbir Pushp, who worked with Patekar on the 1996 thriller Agni Sakshi, the actor’s public image is often distorted by how people interpret his outspoken nature. Pushp defended Patekar against claims that his temper has cost producers money, and highlighted a charitable act that contradicts the harsher image.
During a period when news outlets were reporting on the distress of farmers whose families were being hit by a wave of suicides, Patekar decided to act. He had originally planned to purchase a car worth ₹1.5 crore, but instead chose to split that amount into ₹15 k cheques and distribute them among the affected families. Pushp recalled that Patekar called a friend and instructed him to prepare the cheques, stating that “the one who wipes the farmers’ tears can’t cause harm to anyone.” The gesture was part of Patekar’s broader philanthropic work through the NAAM Foundation, which has collected significant funds for farmers over the years. Patekar even lives on a farm, according to Pushp.
Pushp also described an incident that illustrates Patekar’s temper, but only when he believes the cause is just. He recounted a moment when Patekar saw a driver throw a plastic bottle from a moving car onto the road. Patekar stopped the vehicle, picked up the bottle, and confronted the driver at a traffic signal, asking him to roll down the window and consider the duty of keeping the country clean. “Who will keep Bharat swachh?” Patekar asked, reminding the driver that Gandhi was gone but the responsibility remained.
The actor’s temper has also been a point of contention in his professional relationships. Vidhu Vinod Chopra, who appeared on the singing reality show Sa Re Ga Ma Pa in 2024, recalled their past conflict. Chopra said he had never used profanity before, but during shoots with Patekar he found himself swearing back in response to the actor’s abuses. Chopra admitted that he began to curse only because he had to direct Patekar. This anecdote underscores the complexity of Patekar’s public persona—fiery on set yet deeply compassionate off it.
