Amitabh Bachchan and Nana Patekar drifted apart after 1999 film Kohram; 13 years later, Big B reached out after seeing his performance as Rakesh Maria in Ram Gopal Varma's 26/11 attack movie

Thirteen years after sharing little warmth on a film set, Amitabh Bachchan picked up the phone to call Nana Patekar. The reason was a performance that left him shaken. Nana and Amitabh had worked together in 1999 film Kohram, directed by Mehul Kumar. After working together, both of them reportedly drifted apart and two actors stayed distant for years, with neither side making much effort to bridge gap, according to TOI.

What Happened Between Nana Patekar And Amitabh Bachchan

But that changed in 2013, when Amitabh watched Ram Gopal Varma's The Attacks of 26/11. Film cast Nana as Rakesh Maria, top Mumbai police officer who led investigation into 2008 terror attack. Amitabh was reportedly moved to tears by portrayal and got in touch with Nana soon after, offering congratulations directly.

A source close to film, quoted by TOI, described gap between two actors in blunt terms. "Nana didn't expect this. Bachchan saab and he hardly share what I'd call great vibes. It goes back to time they did Kohram together," source said.

Big B Sent A Handwritten Note

Beyond phone call, Amitabh sent a bouquet along with handwritten note for Nana, a gesture he is known for when colleagues deliver performances he admires. For Nana, who had little reason to expect warmth from Amitabh's side, move came as genuine surprise.

Old history between two added weight to gesture. Nana had once offered Amitabh a role written specially keeping his image in mind, hoping to work with him again. That project never got made, and attempt at collaboration quietly faded away.

What Made Nana Patekar's Performance Stand Out

Director Ram Gopal Varma spoke about showing film to Amitabh first because of his long association with senior actor and respect for his opinion. "Because of my long association with Amitji and since I value his opinion very highly, I showed my film to him," Varma said.

Among elements of Nana's performance that reportedly struck Amitabh most was his voice. Varma explained that Nana's character served as narrator for film, built around real testimony Rakesh Maria gave before a committee set up to examine events of 26/11.

"Nana as Rakesh Maria is my narrator. In real life, Rakesh Maria had deposed before a committee appointed to examine events of 26/11. I brought that committee into my film. It gave me a certain dramatic licence to play with time in storytelling," Varma said.

Director said he was drawn to mental state Rakesh Maria would have carried through night of attacks, and needed an actor capable of carrying that weight on screen. "I was fascinated with mind state of Rakesh Maria on night of 26/11 way I understood it, and I needed an outstanding actor to portray same, which is what Nana Patekar is," he said.

Old Rivalry Turned Into Recognition

For two actors who had kept their cold distance since Kohram, moment marked a rare thaw. Amitabh's public praise for film, shared widely with his fans, signalled respect that had little to do with past friction between them.

Varma, reflecting on reaction, said response validated intent behind making film. "Going by such deep emotional reactions film evoked in Mr Bachchan, which he so magnanimously shared with all his fans on his twitter, I feel I have achieved my primary intention of being extremely truthful to emotional content of attacks of 26/11," he said.

26/11 refers to coordinated terror attacks carried out across Mumbai on night of November 26, 2008. Ten armed attackers linked to Pakistan based group Lashkar e Taiba struck multiple locations in city, including Taj hotel, Oberoi hotel, Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus railway station and Nariman House, over nearly 60 hours.

Big B Gifted Nana A Shirt He Complimented

Nana once complimented a shirt Amitabh was wearing on sets of Kohram. Amitabh told him shirt belonged to his son Abhishek. By evening, Nana found same shirt waiting for him in his vanity, left behind without a word. He still keeps it with him to this day.

How Nana Patekar Got His Name 'Nana' On Sets

During shoot of Kohram, Amitabh distributed sweets to entire unit one day. He told Nana he had just become a grandfather, using word Nana for occasion. Nana joked back he did not need years to earn title. "Kitne saal lag gaye, main toh janam se Nana hu," he said, playing on his own screen name.

Nana Patekar Came To See Amitabh on KBC

Asked by Amitabh on Kaun Banega Crorepati why he walked away from film industry glamour, Nana gave a simple answer. "I don't really belong to film industry. I come here, do my work, and then run back. I've never been someone who attends parties here," he said. Amitabh responded warmly, saying choice made him proud.

Nana went on to describe life away from city in detail. "Amit ji, I received far more than I ever wished for. Life has given me a lot. When your needs are limited, everything becomes much easier," he said. He contrasted walled city homes with mountains surrounding his village, calling that life far simpler. Amitabh called it a wonderful thing to say.

'Only I and Bachchan': Nana On Actors Who Still Calls Directors Without Managers

Promoting Prakash Jha's film Sankalp, Nana said very few actors reach out to directors directly anymore. "Only I and Amitabh Bachchan call," Jha confirmed, adding most relationships today stay limited to a single film. Nana said he had called Abhishek that same morning only to check on him, not for any work.

Nana Patekar, one of Hindi and Marathi cinema’s most acclaimed actors, died at 75 at his residence in Dona Paula, Goa, in the early hours of October 8, 2026. He was found unconscious and taken to Manipal Hospital, where doctors attempted CPR for around 45 minutes before he was declared dead following a cardiac arrest. Patekar, known for powerful performances in films includingKrantiveer,ParindaandNatsamrat, leaves behind a career spanning nearly five decades