PUNE: Veteran actor Nana Patekar said, “When I was a student in JJ School of Art, I used to paint the zebra crossing and I used to pay the fee from the money I earned. I was a mischievous person and I had the characteristic of a ruffian. This helped me during the shooting of Welcome. While learning painting, I was attracted by films and started working in them.”
Patekar released the biography of senior painter Maruti Patil at the Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute. The book has been published by Rajhans Prakashan. Maruti Patil, senior journalist Vijay Kuvalekar and senior painter Dattatreya Padekar were present.
“I was studying painting but I could not progress further. While learning painting, I turned to films. I had worked in a play and I came to know that I can act. Then, I chose this as my profession. I faced many problems later. We should experience problems in life because we learn some lessons which enrich our life. Maruti Patil was involved in an accident and he lost a leg. But he did not lose hope and is a fighter. Today’s children have an easy life and we cannot say whether they will become successful,” Patekar said.
Barkha Patil made the opening remarks and Tejas Patil presented a vote of thanks.
Maruti Patil was interviewed by his former student Yogesh Deshpande. Speaking about how thought about writing the book, Patil said, “I was born and brought up in the nature’s lap and it became a part of my painting. My wife Neela asked to write an autobiography. She supported me strongly and my daughter Barkha also encouraged me and asked to write the book.”
“If someone asks me to act in Natsamrat, I will do it according to the new system. The definitions of happiness and unhappiness have changed. Natsamrat’s worries or problems were within the four walls of his wife. However, when we look at farmers’ problems and sorrows, we realise that they are more serious. Their fortunes are at the mercy of the weather and we keep everything locked. When we want to buy a vegetable, we haggle over the price but when we go to the mall, we don’t bargain because the price is printed,” Patekar said.
“The definition of happiness and unhappiness should be changed every day. Then the subjects of painting will change and you will create something new. It is necessary for me to change regularly. I have managed to survive for 50 years with my nature. I never went out of my way to adjust with somebody. I may have lost many films but I am happy that I have lived on my terms,” Patekar added.
