Nana Is On Cloud Nine!

Nanaq Patekar was both on January 1 1951. To commemorate his 70th birthday held yesterday, we reproduce an interview taken 4 years ago with the actor who brooks no nonsense and has mellowed a lot and talks about his role in Ab Tak Chappan 2 and his plans to direct once again to JYOTHI VENKATESH

Is Ab Tak Chappan 2 a hastily made sequel of Ab Tak Chappan?

How can you assume that Ab Tak Chappan 2 is a hastily made sequel to the original hit when it has taken us over two years to complete the film? Do you know that it was launched even before my Marathi film Dr Prakash Baba Amte was launched and released and clicked at the box office in a big way?

Why the film is not titled Ab Tak Pachhathar as obviously it will go beyond Chappan?

Why should we restrict the film’s appeal by calling it Ab Tak Pachchathar or Ab Tak Sathaavan or for that Ab Tak Nabbey when it has scope to go beyond infinity on its own steam?

Did you like the script or agree to do it because it will become a franchise by itself?

You know that I am quite choosy. I will never say yes to a sequel just because I know that it has scope for franchising. It is always the script that attracts me to any film. In fact, if only Ab Tak Chappan 2 was just a continuation of Ab Tak Chappan, I would not have said yes to the offer to act in it. The only other sequel which I am doing is Welcome Back. I agreed to do the film because of its wonderful script.

The film has not been promoted too well. Is this a marketing strategy or just unfortunate?

Though I am not the producer of the film, I do not think that it has not been promoted well. If you mean to say that we are not promoting it by going to Comedy Nights with Kapil Sharma, you are right. Why should I go to Kapil Sharma’s show? My films do not run because of his show. If you tell me that my film will run only if I go to his show and allow Kapil Sharma to insult me as well as the audience, I will not go to his show.

Do you think people will warm up to the sequel too like they did to the original?

The film will appeal to the people because Sadhu Agashe is now 60. Though he is retired, he is called back to deal with some problem but he is reluctant to come back. His son instigates him and tells him that he is not just a fisherman to sit at home. Sadhu is different from the cop in Shagird. He has bitterness about his own department and is disillusioned about politics. As he has gone in isolation, he can look at himself objectively and hence decides to come to Mumbai from Goa. Sadhu has to keep in mind the fact that the crime style has changed now and one can sit at home and indulge in bigger crimes, like cyber crime, because of increase in the number of educated people. It has nothing to do with Ramu who produced or Shimit Amin who directed the original. Aejaz Gulab has directed it.

Why do you pick and choose very few films as an actor in Hindi?

That is because most of the times I am told that I should do a film because I am the main villain and Shah Rukh Khan or Shahid Kapoor is playing the hero. Is that the criterion to offer me a film? I ask the producer to narrate what the subject is and the price that they are offering me, if I like the subject and am wiling to act in it and they vanish! (Laughs)

You are reputed to interfere with your directors. Is it true?

Why just interfere? I also unofficially direct quite a few of my films, in the interest of the betterment of the film. I am not joking. I even give swear words to some one who does not listen to me on the sets. If you are just stuck in the pitch, you cannot do anything new. I interfered with the director during the shooting of my earlier Marathi film Maaficha Saakshidaar too.

With N Chandra, you gave hits like Ankush, Pratighaat, Wajood etc. Why are you not collaborating with him on another project?

I was paid Rs 10,000 for acting in Ankush. Out of that amount, I was paid Rs 3000 as the signing amount and was told that if Chandra got a buyer, I would get my remaining Rs 7000. However, Chandra ran out of money before the film could be completed and I bailed him out by getting a loan of Rs 2 lakhs from Janta Sahakari Bank at that time, which Chandra returned back to me.

Which are the other movies of yours for which you suggest sequels could be easily made?

What is a sequel? I am of the opinion that with a sequel, you try to carry forward the goodwill and cash in on its brand value. Each and every movie of mine in which I survive at the end can easily be made into a sequel, whether it is Prahaar, Pak Pak Pakaak, Agni Saakshi or even Deool.

You have steered away from politics. Why?

Till today, I have been able to tell frankly on the face whatever I think is right. Fools say first and think later. I think and then say. Once I even told Balasaheb Thackeray, who is like my father that what he said was wrong because I felt so and people thought he will hit me but he didn’t. Today, I do not lose my sleep, because I do not compromise on my principles. I have survived for 42 years because of my work, not chamchagiri. I have neither a manager nor a chamcha to boost my ego because I do not need one. I am of the opinion that actors should never contest elections, as they belong to all religions, castes and languages. If I join politics, I will not be allowed to say what I feel is right. In any case, I feel that acting by itself is like being in active politics.

Why didn’t you follow up your directorial debut Prahaar with another film as a director?

Though I received several offers to direct after Prahaar I said no to them because I wanted to earn as an actor and make my own money and buy my own house. Now that I have my own house, I am now all set to launch my own Marathi film Natasamrat as a producer. Mahesh Manjrekar will direct the film and I will play the title role of Natasamrat, a role made legendary by Dr Shreeram Lagoo on the Marathi stage. I am also planning to make a film on Dr Prakash Baba Amte, who has been my friend for the last 42 years. I also have plans to make a love story as well as a TV reality show on prisoners.

Is it true that you are planning to be part of Ab Tak Chappan 3 too?

Yes. Ab Tak Chappan 3 too is on the cards. When I launch a film, I do not think who the director is going to be. Though I may direct it if I have the time, one thing is sure. That is the film will be shot on grand scale in France an Istanbul.