Nana Patekar recently shared insights about his experience working with Pankaj Tripathi and Rajinikanth in the 2018 film Kaala. During an interview, he expressed surprise at Pankaj’s decision to take on a small role, humorously suggesting that he would be compelled to “beat” him for such a choice.
Reflecting on the film, Nana recounted his conversation with Pankaj, who played a minor character—a police officer. He said, “We were doing a film called Kaala with Rajinikanth. Pankaj Tripathi was playing a very small role. I saw him and asked, ‘Pankaj, what are you doing here?’” Pankaj’s response was that it was a small role, but he wanted to work alongside prominent actors like Nana and Rajinikanth.
Nana emphasized Pankaj’s established status as a significant actor. He told Pankaj, “You are a very big actor. You won’t become big by working with us — you are already big. If you ever take such roles again, I’ll beat you.” This light-hearted exchange highlighted their mutual respect and the camaraderie that developed during the filming.
The 2018 film Kaala is an action drama directed by Pa. Ranjith and produced by Wunderbar Films. It features a talented cast, including Eswari Rao, Huma Qureshi, Samuthirakani, Anjali Patil, and others. Rajinikanth plays the lead role of Karikaalan ‘Kaala’ Vengaiyan, while Nana portrays the antagonist, a politician named Haridev Abhyankar. Pankaj’s character is depicted as a corrupt police officer, SI Pankaj Patil.
In terms of his recent work, Nana Patekar has been involved in several notable projects. He featured in O Romeo, directed by Vishal Bhardwaj, alongside actors such as Shahid Kapoor and Tamannaah Bhatia. Additionally, he made a cameo appearance in Anil Kapoor’s Subedaar.
Nana also appeared in the recently released Amazon MX Player series Sankalp, a socio-political drama helmed by director Prakash Jha, which stars Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub, Kubbra Sait, and Sanjay Kapoor. His diverse roles showcase his versatility and continued relevance in the Indian film industry.