Vishwanath Patekar, better known as Nana Patekar, is an Indian actor, screenwriter, film maker, and a former Indian Territorial Army officer, mainly working in Hindi and Marathi cinema. He is regarded as one of the finest and influential actors in Indian Cinema, Patekar is recipient of three National Film Awards, four Filmfare Awards and two Filmfare Awards Marathi for his acting performances. He was bestowed with the Padma Shri award in 2013 for his contribution in cinema and arts.
Patekar in 2017
Nana Patekar and Sameera Reddy at the premiere of Taxi No. 9211 in 2006.
The President, Pranab Mukherjee presenting the Padma Shri Award to Nana Patekar, at an Investiture Ceremony, at Rashtrapati Bhavan, in New Delhi on 20 April 2013
Gaman is a Hindi film released in 1978, starring Farooq Sheikh and Smita Patil in the lead roles and introducing Nana Patekar in a supporting role. It is the directorial debut of Muzaffar Ali, who went on to make Umrao Jaan (1981). The film deals with the issue of the futility of urban migration, using the story of a migrant from Uttar Pradesh to Mumbai, who tries to find a foothold in his new life as a taxi driver.
Theatrical release poster