Amitabh could play second fiddle to me: Nana Patekar

“Amitabh (Bachchan) told me that he wouldn't want to reprise a role which has been done with such perfection,” actor Nana Patekar told the audience at the success party to mark Natsamrat Asa Nat Hone Nahi (NANHN) as the highest grosser ever in the history of Marathi cinema. Patekar was speaking about how many biggies like Big B from Bollywood, who had watched the film, were gripped with the idea of doing it in Hindi.

“Because he said he didn't want to play the protagonist I suggested he play the second fiddle, ie reprise Vikram Gokhale's character,” he cackled in his signature style, leaving those gathered in splits. “You know what he said about NANHN? (Imitating Bachchan's baritone) 'NanaJi Adbhut! Adbhut!'” The actor added that he was very fond of Bachchan and used his first name to talk to him. Incidentally, when the film was being made, Mahesh Manjrekar toyed with idea of casting Naseeruddin Shah as the alter-ego friend of the protagonist. “They had planned to make him a Hindi theatre actor so that Shah could speak in Hindi. But this clash of the acting titans never worked out,” lamented a unit hand.

Incidentally, Manjrekar was on a roll as he mischievously tore into many who had plagued with him unsolicited advice on making and even not making NANHN. “It was perhaps these naysayers who pushed the whole team into giving the film our best and the result is there for all to see.” Patekar said this was not only about the Rs40 crore that the film had grossed at the box office. “We want the Marathi film industry to punch higher and dream even bigger than it is.”

Manjrekar echoed this sentiment: “I did not dress in a kurta-pyjama, like at all NANHN events, but changed my get-up because I wanted to get out of this trap. Now, I will not be content till I make something which outdoes this film.” Even while praising his team, Manjrekar couldn't escape the temptation to take potshots at others who had played spoilsport. “I want to thank Nitin Desai who went and registered the title Natsamrat, the moment I announced I was making a film on the play. Whenever I would call, he would assure of letting go of the title but, ultimately, didn't. Similarly, I want to thank Reema Lagoo for walking out of the project, because then I wouldn't have got Medha (Manjrekar) to step into her shoes as Ganpatrao Belwalkar's wife.”

Before the Nana Patekar-starrer record of 'Rs40 crore in a mere six weeks' at the box office, Zee Studios' Lai Bhari had held the title of 'Number One Grosser in Marathi Cinema'. Over the last three years, all back-to-back blockbuster hits — Duniyadari, Timepass, Lai Bhari, Timepass 2, and now NANHN — have all been released under the Zee Studios banner.
Riteish Deshmukh-starrer Lai Bhari had collected Rs35 crore in six weeks, where as Timepass, Timepass 2 and Duniyadari had collected Rs32 crore, Rs28 crore and Rs26 crore at the box office, respectively.

“At times, when people told me that they were so emotionally overwhelmed that they left the theatre midway, it would scare me about what this will do to our collections, because the difference between a hit and a blockbuster is often the viewer who comes again and again. Luckily, it all worked out. People have told me NANHN leaves your eyes moist and your soul cleansed. Even hardened cynical moviegoers found it hard not to be moved by the plight of Ganapat Belwalkar, the elderly theatre actor, who foolishly believes his children will look after him after retirement,” Manjrekar told dna.
Reacting to NANHN's stupendous success, CEO and founder of Zee Studios Nittin Keni said: “This success is important to us and the Marathi film industry. Marathi cinema is breaking boundaries yet again. The response to NANHN has proved how mature Marathi audience has become. The viewers and our team are equal shareholders in this success story.”

“Marathi cinema come to be synonymous with good cinema. Making NANHN was like a dream come true for me. Its success is more than one could have asked for. The film is still running strong. Our team put heart and soul to make this dream come true and, today, I'm absolutely overwhelmed with the response Natsamrat is getting from audience and film critics,” said Manjrekar.

NANHN released on January 1. It is still running successfully in 174 theaters with 2,225 daily shows all over Maharashtra.