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Legendary actor Nana Patekar died at the age of 75 on October 8, and Smriti Irani paid a heartfelt tribute to him. The actor-politician, in a lengthy and emotional
Instagram post, remembered Patekar not just as an acclaimed celebrity who was known to millions, but as "Dada", which was her affectionate moniker for him. Irani shared a video of Patekar preparing fish fry for her and reminisced about their casual acquaintance, his impromptu phone calls and the kindness underlying his notoriously gruff exterior. She also added that their last chat still echoes in her head, with Patekar asking her when she came to meet him in Pune. "Soon," she said, and that is a recollection of moving poignancy now.
Smriti Irani remembers her 'Dada'
After Nana Patekar's demise, Smriti Irani took to Instagram to pen a touching homage to the actor whom she endearingly nicknamed "Dada." Irani did not want him to be remembered for his renowned cinema roles but for their own intimate experiences together. Patekar's phone calls were unpredictable but priceless, she said, with "no formalities, no pleasantries" between them. "Kahan hai re?" his usual greeting, became their common tie.
"One of my favourite memories is him cooking for me," Irani shared on her fondest recollections of an everyday time when Patekar cooked for her. The video she posted shows the actor making meals for Irani, including fish fry. She remembered there was no particular reason for the gesture. It was just Patekar being Patekar – friendly and generous despite the severe image viewers frequently connected with him.
Photos with him
She also thought about how seldom they recorded their time together. She said neither of them could have imagined that photographs would one day be the memories left behind. She remembered calling Patekar once in a while to introduce him to fresh talent who looked up to him. Irani would talk to them easily, he said, exhibiting the kindness that was underneath his unusual and often scary exterior.
In her homage, she created a picture of a side of Patekar that his fans rarely got to see - a kind friend who made time for people and nurtured budding artists.
Their last talk was about Pune
Irani's most heartfelt tribute was about her last chat with Patekar. She remembered his asking her, "Aa re Pune, kadhi yeshil?" (When will you come to Pune). Irani told him she would come soon.
Since his death, that simple pledge has taken on a new meaning. "Guess not soon enough," she wrote, ending with an impassioned, "See you on the other side, Dada."
Nana Patekar's demise
Nana Patekar died of a heart attack at his bungalow in Dona Paula, Goa, on Thursday morning. He was 75. He was immediately sent to Manipal Hospital, where medics tried to revive him for nearly 45 minutes. He was pronounced deceased at about 5:20 am.
