Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai

Mumbai, Oct 8: Filmmaker Rohit Shetty paid an emotional tribute to veteran actor Nana Patekar, who died at the age of 75, recalling their close bond, late-night conversations and the actor's candid views on his films.

Sharing a photograph of Nana Patekar on Instagram, Rohit addressed him as "Dada" and remembered how their phone conversations would begin without any formalities.

"Dear Dada, I will miss your late-night calls. No hello and no formalities but a straight, 'Aye Shetty, kya kar raha hai?'" Rohit wrote.

The filmmaker said he would sometimes deliberately pretend not to recognise the caller just to irritate Nana and hear his familiar response, "Saale, Nana bol raha hoon."

Rohit also remembered Nana as one of his most honest critics. He said the actor never sugar-coated his opinions after watching his films and would openly tell him whether he liked or disliked a particular movie.

Among the comments Nana would make were, "Yeh waali tune achhi banayi", "Yeh waali mujhe achhi nahi lagi", "Yeh waali superhit hai" and "Yeh tune hit banane ki koshish ki hai."

Rohit said Nana would also remind him that he did not need a large number of stars to make a successful film, telling him, "Abay, tu khud star hai tujhe itne stars ki zaroorat nahi hai."

The filmmaker recalled another gesture that he said he would never forget — Nana's cameo in the 2017 comedy Golmaal Again. When Rohit asked him about his fee, Nana refused to accept any payment and instead asked him to donate the money to an orphanage.

"I will never forget when you did a cameo in Golmaal Again. I asked you, 'Dada, aapki fees?' And you looked at me and said, 'Ch****ya, tujhse paise lunga? Ek anathashram ka number deta hoon, wahan donate kar de,'" Rohit recalled.

Describing Nana as straightforward, unfiltered, generous and genuine, Rohit said he would particularly miss the way the veteran actor addressed him.

"I will miss being called Shetty by you. WILL MISS YOU DADA," he wrote, along with a red heart emoji.

Nana Patekar died at his Goa home after suffering chest pain in the early hours of Thursday. He was 75. His last rites are scheduled to be performed at his farmhouse in Donje near Pune with full state honours.