The passing of veteran actor Nana Patekar has brought back memories of several memorable performances from his long career. One such role was his portrayal of Haridev Abhyankar in Rajinikanth’s ‘Kaala.’ Nana Patekar played the villain opposite Rajinikanth in the 2018 Tamil film, which Pa Ranjith directed. His intense screen presence made the character one of the movie’s key highlights.
Rajinikanth convinced Nana Patekar to join ‘Kaala’
Nana Patekar was hesitant to join ‘Kaala’ because he was unsure if he wanted to play an antagonist. However, Rajinikanth personally reached out to him and narrated the role. Nana Patekar later revealed at the film’s pre-release event that Rajinikanth’s approach played a major part in changing his mind. During the process, Rajinikanth reportedly made a humble remark that nobody would look at him on screen when Patekar was performing. Calling it a sweet gesture, Nana said he eventually agreed to do the film because of his respect and affection for Rajinikanth.
Pa Ranjith wanted Nana Patekar as Kaala’s powerful antagonist
Director Pa. Ranjith was also keen to bring Nana Patekar into the project. The filmmaker admired the veteran actor’s work and wanted someone with a strong presence to play Haridev Abhyankar, the politician who stands against Rajinikanth’s Kaala. Rajinikanth himself was excited about having Patekar on board and described him as another formidable villain in his filmography. He had earlier compared the new antagonist with memorable characters such as Antony from ‘Baasha’ and Neelambari from ‘Padayappa.‘
Nana Patekar’s ‘Kaala’ legacy remains a memorable chapter
‘Kaala’ also featured Eswari Rao, Huma Qureshi, Samuthirakani, Anjali Patil, Pankaj Tripathi and others. Interestingly, Pankaj later recalled receiving valuable advice from Nana Patekar during the film. Nana Patekar questioned why an actor of Tripathi’s ability had accepted such a small role and encouraged him to choose stronger parts.The industry today remembers Nana Patekar and his journey in ‘Kaala’ as a memorable chapter where two powerhouse performers came together with Rajinikanth’s personal appeal finally helping the collaboration happen.
