Mumbai. Legendary actor Rajkumar was born in a Kashmiri Pandit family on 8 October 1926 in Loralai area of Baluchistan. Childhood name was Kulbhushan Pandit. In the 40s, he moved to Mumbai and started working as a sub-inspector. Despite coming into the film line, his style did not change. He was very blunt. He used to say anything while walking. Even the biggest actors used to get embarrassed on hearing the name of Rajkumar and used to shy away from doing films with him. The interesting thing is that Rajkumar himself was nervous after hearing the name of a dynamic Bollywood actor. This actor was none other than Nana Patekar.
Actors Rajkumar and Nana Patekar worked together in the 1993 film ‘Tiranga’. The producer-director of the film was Mehul Kumar. It was Mehul Kumar who brought both the actors together in his film. Both the actors are known for their hot temper. In such a situation, people believed that Tricolor film would not be made. Mehul Kumar had made the impossible possible. The film was a success at the box office. Even today people like this film very much.
Rajinikanth and Naseeruddin Shah had left Tiranga movie
Producer-director Mehul Kumar had talked about this in detail in an interview given to ‘Bollywood Thikana’. He had told, ‘When Tricolor was announced, Rajkumar’s casting was finalized. Nana Patekar’s character was not finalised. Everyone used to ask who would play the role of Inspector. I initially contacted Rajinikanth. I went to Madras and met him, told him the story. He also liked the story very much but because of Rajkumar he refused to do the film. Then I approached Naseeruddin Shah but he also expressed his inability to do the film as soon as he heard Rajkumar’s name. Then someone suggested the name of Nana Patekar to me. When I contacted Nana, he refused to do a commercial film. Then I explained to him that art films will not bring recognition. Nana Patekar liked what I said. He called me to meet.
Mehul Kumar further explains in the interview, ‘I narrated the script to him. He liked his character. Then he said that I will do the film but I will have one condition. The condition was that ‘If Raj Saheb interferes, I will leave the set and will not come back.’ I accepted his condition. The same day I also gave the signing amount to Nana Patekar and returned home.
‘Oho! Why have you taken Nana Patekar?
Mehul Kumar narrates the further story and says, ‘Then the same night I called Rajkumar and told him, ‘Raj Saheb! The actor has been finalized for the role of Inspector. When he curiously asked the name, I told him the name of Nana Patekar. As soon as he heard the name of Nana Patekar, he said ‘Hey! Why have you taken Nana Patekar? He abuses and beats on the set itself. I said that I have talked to Nana Patekar and I will tell you the condition he has set. When I told the condition to the prince, he said no problem. I don’t interfere anyway. The film was completed in six months and became a super hit.
When asked whether there ever was any conflict between the two on the set? Responding to this, Mehul Kumar said, ‘In the beginning there was no conversation between the two. Both used to sit separately. Later, after singing the film’s song ‘Pee Le Pee Le O Mere Raj, Pee Le Pee Le O Mere Johnny…’, both of them became friends. Raj Saheb was very impressed by the word Johnny.
Nana Patekar used to touch the feet of Rajkumar
Recently, Nana Patekar also shared his experiences related to the shooting of the film Tiranga in an interview. According to Nana Patekar, when he met Rajkumar during the shooting of Tiranga, he said in the very first meeting, ‘You are like our father. Respect you. It is in your hands to maintain it. I had no quarrel with him during the shooting of Tiranga. Even if he ever got angry, he did not say anything. I used to touch his feet.
Tags: bollywood news, Nana Patekar
FIRST PUBLISHED: October 5, 2024, 21:51 IST
