Filmmaker Mehul Kumar, who directed Nana Patekar in ‘Tiranga’, ‘Krantiveer’ and ‘Kohram’, says he still finds it hard to believe the actor is gone. Remembering their close family bond, he recalls how Nana agreed to ‘Tiranga’ when stars like Rajinikanth refused, how he handled the film’s moody leads, and how Nana had even agreed to do ‘Krantiveer 2’.
Nana Patekar is gone?
It is very hard to believe I used to talk to him. And he used to lead such a healthy life. In eating and drinking. He had only one problem. Temper. But he was very kind heart. We had such a good family relationship. I am the only director he did three films with. He used to say, I have only one director with whom I never had any problem. And that is Mehul Kumar. We did ‘Tiranga’, ‘Krantiveer’, and ‘Kohram’.
‘Tiranga’ and ‘Krantiveer’ were blockbusters. But ‘Kohram’ didn’t work?
Yes, but in Kohram, Nana Ji and Amit Ji were together for the first time. What a pair they were.
So tell me, how did your association with them start?
When ‘Tiranga’s casting was going on, at that time, no one was ready to do the role. I asked Rajinikanth; he refused. Naseeruddin Shah Saab also refused. Then our publicity designer, Studio Link, suggested Nanaji. I went to his Lokhandwala house and told him the story. And he agreed. He liked the story very much. He had only one reservation.
What was that?
Nanaji said he had never worked with Raj Kumar, known for his moodiness. ‘I am doing the film, but if Mr Raj Kumar interferes on the set, I will leave the set and not come back.’
I have to praise you for your courage. Both Nana and Raj Kumar were famous for their moodiness?
I had absolutely no problem with them. ‘Tiranga’ was completed in six months and became a super hit. In the beginning, they didn’t sit together. But they shot that song, ‘Pee Le Together’; they came very close. Nana was the backbone of ‘Tiranga’ and then ‘Krantiveer’.
How did Nana get along with Mr Bachchan?
When I started making ‘Kohram’, which was a film on terrorism, I told Amit Ji the story. Amit Ji said okay. Then I told Nana. Nana also said okay. Amit Ji asked me, ‘I am doing this film for you. There won’t be any problem with Nana. Because his reputation is everywhere.’ I told Amitji, ‘This is the third film with Nana and my second with you (we had worked together earlier in. You don’t worry.’ There was no problem.
How did you make two temperamental actors like Raj Kumar and Nana work together so peacefully?
I told them the story. I told them, ‘If you have any problem, we can discuss it.’ We won’t make any changes.
Were you in touch with him?
Yes. Family relations with Nana. My wife used to tie a rakhi to him. Every Raksha Bandhan. Whenever he wanted to eat, he used to call home and say, ‘I am coming today.’ When his film was released, we met in the premiere. Anil Sharma’s film. He asked me to click a photo of all three of us. My wife is on one side, and I am on the other.
You were going to work with Nana again?
I had finalised the subject for ‘Krantiveer 2’. I had told Nana about it. He said he will do it.
