08 October,2026 05:07 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Nana Patekar. Pic via AFP
Veteran actor Nana Patekar's death has brought renewed attention to several of his past interviews, including a candid remark about why he chose to play the iconic character of Ganpatrao Belwalkar in the 2016 film Natsamrat rather than take on the role in its original stage production.
Speaking at the Jal Kranti Parishad in Nagpur, Nana explained that performing the role on stage demanded an extraordinary emotional investment. He recalled the fate of several acclaimed actors who had played the lead in the Marathi stage version and admitted that he feared the intensity of the role could have affected his health.
In one of his earlier speeches, Nana Patekar mentioned that every actor who had previously portrayed the character of Natsamrat had died of a heart attack.
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"Even if you have to play a role, you have to put your whole life into it while giving your best performance," Nana had said. He added that actors who had previously played the character had died of heart attacks. "If I had done the play and immersed myself in the role, I too would have died of a heart attack after 25 shows. That is why, instead of doing the play, I played the role in the film Natsamrat," he said.
Nana also spoke with admiration about the actors who had taken on the demanding role before him, naming Vikram Gokhale, Dr Shriram Lagoo, Datta Bhat and Chandrakant Gokhale. "Vikram Gokhale was an excellent actor, and it is not possible for me to reach his level," he had said, while recalling the performances of the other veterans. According to Nana, they had put their "whole life" into the character every time they performed.
Released in 2016, Natsamrat was adapted from Kusumagraj's celebrated Marathi play of the same name. Nana played the iconic role of of Ganpatrao Ramchandra Belwalkar, a revered theatre actor who earns the title of âNatsamrat' for his commanding presence on stage.
The film begins after Ganpatrao retires from acting. Having given away his wealth to his children, he looks forward to spending his later years with his wife Kaveri, played by Medha Manjrekar. However, his expectations of a peaceful retirement are shattered as he faces neglect and humiliation from those closest to him.
Directed by Mahesh Manjrekar, the film explores ageing, family relationships, dignity and the emotional cost of losing one's identity after a lifetime devoted to the stage.
Nana's portrayal of Ganpatrao was widely remembered as one of the most powerful performances of his career. His decision to take the character to the big screen rather than the stage also reflected the immense emotional and physical demands he associated with the role. Nana Patekar passed away on October 8 and will be cremated with full state honour in Pune.
