Veteran actor Nana Patekar, who passed away on Thursday, October 8, leaves behind a remarkable body of work and a legacy that extends beyond his performances on screen. Over the years, the actor has also offered glimpses into the personal experiences that shaped him. One such moment was when he opened up about the painful loss of his father, whom he could not afford to get treated.Reflecting on his early struggles, Nana spoke about how his financial situation gradually improved after he entered the film industry. However, by the time he began earning well, it was too late to save his father, who passed away in a hospital when the family could not afford his treatment.“I started earning money from films. Initially, I earned a little, and then I started earning a lot. But when my father was ill, I didn’t have the money to pay for his treatment, and he died in the hospital,” he recalled in an interview with NDTV in 2024.The actor also revisited the difficult nights he spent outside the hospital with a friend while his father was admitted. Unable to stay inside overnight, the two would sit on the stairs or the footpath, playing Antakshari as they waited anxiously for news about his father’s condition.“We used to sit on the stairs or on the footpath outside the hospital. We weren’t allowed to stay inside overnight, so we would sit outside and play Antakshari. My friend was there with me. You never knew when someone would come out and tell you that your father was no more,” Nana said.Looking back, the actor expressed the regret of not having enough money to secure better medical care for his father. Despite achieving considerable success in his career, the memory of being unable to help his father during his final days continued to affect him emotionally.“If I had had the money, I could have got him better medicines and taken him to a better hospital. But I couldn’t do that. That hesitation stays with you. Even today, when I remember those days, my eyes fill up with tears,” he added.
