Sai Deodhar has shared deeply personal memories of Nana Patekar, recalling the veteran actor’s close relationship with her family, his generosity towards her mother and the affection he showed her while she was growing up. In an emotional conversation with Zoom/Telly Talk India, the actress and director described Nana as a father figure who remained closely connected to her family long before he became a celebrated name in Indian cinema.
According to Sai, Nana’s friendship with her parents, Debu Deodhar and Sharbani Deodhar, went back to the early days of his career. She remembered him visiting their home, taking the family out for ice cream and spending time with them away from the spotlight.
The recollections offer a glimpse into the personal side of the actor, whom Sai affectionately called “Nana Kaka” and her “muh-bole Mama”.
Sai Deodhar Recalls Her Reaction to Nana Patekar’s Death
Sai said she was struggling to come to terms with the news of Nana’s reported death. She revealed that her mother had spoken to him just four days earlier and that she herself had planned to call him on October 8 to invite him to a screening of her upcoming film at Jagran.
“I am still in disbelief,” Sai said during the interview, explaining how closely their families were connected. She recalled that her parents had known Nana before he became a star and that he would often visit them at night to take them out for dinner or ice cream.
For Sai, the relationship was much more than a professional association. She regarded him as family and remembered the warmth with which he treated her throughout her childhood.
One of her fondest memories involved a late-night ice-cream outing when nobody had enough money to pay. Sai explained that Nana assumed her father had money, while her father believed Nana was financially better off. The amusing misunderstanding left them discovering that neither had enough cash for the outing.
The incident reflected the informal, close-knit relationship between Nana and the Deodhars. Sai said her parents were closely associated with his film Prahaar – The Final Attack, in which she also acted. She recalled that Nana frequently spent time with her parents during the production and that he treated their home as if it were his own.
“My father was Nana Kaka’s right hand,” she recalled, describing the strong bond between the two men.
Sai also spoke about her mother’s demanding responsibilities on Prahaar. According to her account, the production initially had five or six assistant directors, but by the end of filming, her mother was the only assistant director left. She added that managing Nana’s strong personality was a challenge in itself, while her father was equally spirited.
Nana Patekar’s Affectionate Advice to Shakti Anand at Sai’s Wedding
Nana was also present at Sai’s wedding to actor Shakti Anand. Remembering the occasion, Sai described how he wanted the wedding rituals to move along quickly so the celebrations could continue.
She also recalled Nana giving Shakti a playful piece of advice: if Sai ever troubled him, he should tell Nana rather than argue with her. For Sai, the exchange was another example of how protective Nana was of her.
His support extended beyond happy occasions. Sai said Nana stood by her family when her father passed away, offering his presence during a difficult period.
She also remembered the excitement surrounding Nana’s first car, a Tata Safari. According to Sai, he arrived at their home late one night, woke everyone up and took them for a drive. The unexpected outing became another cherished family memory.
During the making of Prahaar, Nana even arranged for Sai to get a video game, she recalled. His gestures, she said, reflected the way he pampered her and treated her as his own daughter.
Sai Deodhar Says Nana Patekar Gave 10% of His Income to Her Mother
One of Sai’s most striking recollections concerned Nana’s financial support for her mother, Sharbani. She said her parents lived in a chawl and that Nana regarded her mother as a sister.
According to Sai, Nana would transfer 10 per cent of his income into her mother’s bank account. She described him as genuine and emotionally spontaneous, someone who could become angry suddenly but also showed deep affection for the people he considered close.
Sai’s account portrays the bond as one rooted in friendship and family rather than the glamour of the film industry. She also recalled growing up alongside Nana’s son, Malhar, further highlighting how closely the two families were connected.
The claim about the financial transfers is based on Sai’s recollection in the interview; it has not been independently established in this report.
‘He Went Like a King’: Sai Deodhar Remembers Her ‘Mad Mama’
Reflecting on Nana’s final days, Sai said she believed he would not have wanted his loved ones to experience the distress of seeing him seriously unwell in hospital. She recalled that he had often spoken about the way he wanted to leave the world.
Sai said she would remember him for his laughter, strength and larger-than-life personality. She described him as a “lion” and said he had “gone like a king”, expressing how she wanted to preserve his memory.
Their last conversation was especially meaningful to her. Sai said Nana had wanted to meet her daughter, his granddaughter in the affectionate sense of their family relationship.
She concluded that she would always remember him as her “Mad Mama” — a beloved figure whose place in her life went far beyond his identity as an actor and filmmaker.
Nana Patekar’s reported death and the funeral arrangements mentioned in the original account should be confirmed through reliable sources before publication, given the significance of the news.
