When the camera is on, I am an actor; otherwise, I am an ordinary person.
— Nana Patekar
We should judge by talent and work not by community or caste.
Our democracy has survived for so many years in India. We should at least give credit to the Congress for that.
As an actor, I think it is my responsibility to hold a mirror to the society.
I come from a small village called Murud Janjira near Alibaug. I started doing theatre right from school days and later joined the Sir J. J. Institute of Applied Art, after which I joined an advertising agency.
My father was into textile painting and ran a small business. He encouraged me a lot and loved seeing my plays.
I don't need others to validate my good conduct.
Yes, I remember as a child, I would potter around my mother in the kitchen and want to participate in everything she was doing. I have learnt most of my cooking from her. I also used to irritate her with a lot of questions.
The role has to excite me as an actor. It is like a train journey: you know where you have to reach, and all things that happen in between are like stations that come and go. Of course, there are films like 'Welcome,' which I did only for money.
My work is my ultimate source of happiness.
I enjoy the love and admiration of the people.
I don't want to do too many films because I don't aspire to buy huge cars or build bungalows.
The soldiers who serve in uniform at the front are our real heroes. They fight a battle every day to protect the integrity of the nation.
The Naxals are also human beings.
If we don't move with time, we'll be stuck in old ways.
I've lost a lot in life because of my nature.
I feel, at the national level, shooters should get monetary rewards also, along with medals and a handshake.
I have seen several hardships since I was a child. As a result, I don't perceive things the way most people do.
We live in a society where you may not like everything that is happening around you. However, just because you don't like it doesn't mean it is wrong. Similarly, just because you dislike something, you don't have to keep talking about it or instigating people against it.
Earlier in my career, there may have been compulsions for accepting films for money.
The more layers a story has, the better it is for the audience.
When I was just 13, we went from being middle class to lower middle class and finally lower class, as someone close to my father took away everything he had, including his property. All of a sudden, I started working at the age of 13.
Everybody has a hero and a villain within themselves. So it depends upon you to be a hero or a villain. If you show humanity, it will give you satisfaction.
I don't like eating outside food at all. I do it only if there is absolutely no choice. Whenever I have a party at home, and even if there are 25 people coming, I make it a point to cook everything at home, and I don't get any stuff from outside.
Practice helps you reduce your mistakes.
I believe in God, but I am not religious.
Spirituality, for me, is acquiring and giving happiness without hurting anyone.
Acting is just my hobby. When I don't want to do it, I won't do it.
I am not a greedy actor.
I want to tell the children of Kashmir that they should read, write, and learn and come to the mainstream.
When my cousin sister got married to a Muslim boy, my family was baffled. All the brothers had abandoned her. But I said there is nothing wrong in it. We have not lost our sister. In fact, we got another family member in the form of that boy.
Dealing with crime using archaic methods has become impossible. So, it's imperative that we change the ways to counter them.
I've repeatedly tried to curb my temper.
I used to be the chief guest in all the prize distribution ceremonies of shooting competitions. I tried my hand on a lot of guns, and my aim improved. I started hitting tiny targets, like a mineral bottle cap.
I do take my characters back home. In fact, I am the reel person in real life during the entire shoot. This affects me and my family because I tend to be eccentric or irritable during these times.
There is a difference between being straightforward and careless.
I have seen some films which were bad or trashy been given four stars. From that day on, I don't believe in reviews.
The purpose of making a successful film is to blend entertainment with social content.
My father died when I was 28, and within two-and-a-half years of that, I lost my first son.
We all are Indians, and that should be our only religion. What is the need to be called a Hindu, Muslim, or Christian? Does anybody have any religion or caste at the time of birth?
I cook anything, be it vegetarian or non-vegetarian. But mutton dishes are my favourite.
As an actor, I am always in one character or the other and get very little time to be Nana Patekar. So whenever I can, I love to be alone and by myself. That way, I get time to think and introspect.
God has given me more than what I wanted.
If anybody has done bad things to me, then I must have done the same to them.
I'm too blunt and straightforward for politics, but I'm friends with all.
Whenever somebody comes to me with a script, I ask a question to myself - 'Why do I want to do the film?'
Government will do whatever they want.
Whether we have a new or an old director doesn't affect my work.
Once I lose control, there's no stopping me.
I know I get abusive, very abusive, when I'm angry.
