The other Nana Patekar: A life shaped by classical music

As a judge on Indian Idol a year ago, Nana Patekar sat immersed in music as contestant Sneha Shankar sang ‘Ye dil tum bin kahin lagta nahin’ (from the film Izzat ), punctuating her rendition with appreciative “wah wahs”. When she finished, he stood up and asked if she knew the next antara , beginning with ‘Mohabbat kar to le lekin...’. As she sang, he stood listening, savouring every nuance. Many actors appear on reality shows as guest judges, often as part of film promotions. Nana’s presence, however, felt different. He brought an unfeigned love for music and an artiste’s curiosity to the proceedings. His engagement with the contestants was genuine, marked by the sincerity and spontaneity that characterised him wherever he went. It was also a glimpse of a lesser-known side of Nana Patekar.