Veteran actor Shivaji Satam, best known for his role in the long-running detective series CID, has recalled how the late Nana Patekar quietly intervened to support him when his wife was diagnosed with cancer during the shoot of the 1997 crime drama 'Ghulam-E-Mustafa'. Satam shared the deeply personal account at a prayer meeting held in Mumbai on Wednesday, 15 October 2026, in memory of Patekar, who passed away on 8 October 2026 at the age of 75.

The Moment Nana Noticed Something Was Wrong

According to Satam, he was in considerable distress on set after receiving his wife's diagnosis and feared he would be unable to continue shooting. He recalled that Patekar immediately sensed something was amiss and pressed him to speak openly. “Nana noticed that something was wrong. He asked me what had happened, and I told him that I would not be able to shoot. He insisted that I tell him what was going on. When I finally opened up to him, he said, ‘You keep quiet and wait for a day.’”

How Patekar Quietly Rearranged the Shoot Schedule

Without making a show of it, Patekar approached the film’s director, Partho Ghosh, and personally informed him of Satam’s circumstances. Satam recalled: “Nana spoke to Partho and informed the filmmakers that, from the very next day, I would need to go to the hospital every morning and evening. Partho immediately accommodated my situation and told me to come at 12 noon and leave by 8 PM.” This adjustment, Satam noted, allowed him to be with his wife at the hospital during her treatment without disrupting the production entirely.

Notably, Patekar also quietly informed co-star Aruna Irani of the family’s situation, ensuring the broader unit was sensitive to what Satam was going through. Satam emphasised that Patekar never sought recognition for the gesture: “Nana never spoke about this to anyone. He would quietly help people without letting anyone know. There are many more stories like these about him.”

The Lighter Side of a Deep Bond

Satam also touched on the warmth and humour that characterised his friendship with Patekar. “Whenever I met him, he would hug me tightly and flaunt his biceps, saying that I had become lazy and that my biceps had become very loose,” Satam recalled with affection. Despite the two not being in frequent contact, Satam said the memories he carries are vivid and enduring.

About 'Ghulam-E-Mustafa' and the Stars It Brought Together

Directed by Partho Ghosh and released on 31 October 1997, 'Ghulam-E-Mustafa' was a crime drama that saw Patekar play the lead role of Ghulam-E-Mustafa, an underworld enforcer, while Satam portrayed Dayanand Dixit, a family man drawn into the gangster’s orbit. Aruna Irani played Dayanand’s wife Bhagyalaxmi Dixit, and Raveena Tandon essayed Kavita, Mustafa’s love interest. The film’s score, composed by Rajesh Roshan with lyrics by Anand Bakshi, was well received, with the track 'Tera Gham Mera Gham' — voiced by Hariharan and Kavita Krishnamurthy — among its most remembered songs.

A Prayer Meeting Attended by Film Fraternity Stalwarts

The prayer meeting in Mumbai brought together several prominent figures from Hindi and Marathi cinema, including Rohini Hattangadi and Varsha Usgaonkar. The gathering served as a collective tribute to Patekar’s legacy — both on screen and in the quieter, more personal acts of humanity that, as Satam’s account illustrates, defined him off it. With tributes continuing to pour in nearly a week after his passing, Patekar’s reputation as someone who led by example in both craft and character appears to be the lasting image his colleagues wish to preserve.