Rohit Shetty reveals Nana Patekar did Golmaal Again cameo for free
Synopsis
Rohit Shetty's Instagram tribute to the late Nana Patekar revealed a quietly extraordinary gesture: the veteran actor waived his entire fee for the Golmaal Again cameo and asked Shetty to donate to an orphanage instead. It is the kind of detail that cuts through the usual celebrity condolences and tells you exactly who Nana Patekar was.
Key Takeaways
Nana Patekar passed away on 8 October , found unresponsive at his Goa residence at the age of 75 .
Filmmaker Rohit Shetty revealed on Instagram that Nana did a cameo in Golmaal Again (2017) without charging any fee.
Instead of a payment, Nana asked Shetty to donate to an orphanage (anathashram) of his choosing.
In the film, Nana appeared as himself and also voiced a ghost character.
Rohit described Nana as one of his most honest critics who never sugar-coated his opinions on any film.
Filmmaker Rohit Shetty has paid an emotional tribute to veteran actor Nana Patekar, who passed away on 8 October 2026, recalling their irreverent friendship and revealing that the late actor appeared in the 2017 comedy film Golmaal Again without accepting any fee — instead directing the payment to an orphanage.
A Friendship Built on Honesty and Wit
Taking to Instagram, Rohit shared memories of Nana's late-night calls — calls that began not with a greeting but with a blunt, 'Aye Shetty, kya kar raha hai?' Rohit admitted he would deliberately feign ignorance, asking 'Kaun bol raha hai?', just to provoke the characteristic retort: 'Saale, Nana bol raha hoon!'
The filmmaker described the veteran actor as one of the most candid critics he had ever encountered. Nana Patekar, he said, never softened his verdicts on Rohit's films — freely declaring which ones he liked, which ones he did not, and which he believed were genuine hits.
The Golmaal Again Cameo That Cost Nothing
Among the most striking revelations in Rohit's tribute was the story behind Nana's special appearance in Golmaal Again. When Rohit asked about his fee, Nana reportedly replied: 'Tujhse paise lunga? Ek anathashram ka number deta hoon, wahan donate kar de.'
In the 2017 film, Nana appeared as himself and also lent his distinctive voice to a ghost character — a dual contribution that, according to the director, he made entirely out of affection. The moment encapsulated what Rohit called Nana's defining qualities: 'Straight. Unfiltered. Generous. And always genuine.'
Rohit Shetty's Full Tribute
In his Instagram post, the filmmaker wrote: 'Dear Dada, I will miss your late-night calls. No hello and no formalities but a straight, Aye Shetty, kya kar raha hai? And I would purposely reply, Kaun bol raha hai?, to irritate you only to get a Saale, Nana bol raha hoon!'
He added: 'After my release, you were one of my biggest and most honest critics. You never sugar-coated anything… I will never forget when you did a cameo in Golmaal Again.' He closed with: 'I will miss being called Shetty by you. Will miss you Dada.'
Nana Patekar's Passing Stuns Bollywood
The news of Nana Patekar's passing on 8 October sent shockwaves across the Indian film industry. Reports indicate the 75-year-old actor was found unresponsive at his Goa residence after reportedly complaining of severe chest discomfort. Several members of the film fraternity have since come forward to offer their condolences, with tributes highlighting his decades-long contribution to Hindi and Marathi cinema.
The outpouring of grief underscores the singular place Nana Patekar held in Indian popular culture — an actor whose rawness on screen was matched only by his generosity off it, as Rohit Shetty's account so vividly illustrates.
Point of View
Unvarnished story rather than a string of adjectives. The anathashram anecdote is more revealing about Nana Patekar's character than any obituary could be. In an ecosystem where even grief can become performative, Shetty's post stands out for what it refuses to prettify. It also quietly underlines a larger truth — that the film industry has lost a figure who was genuinely sui generis, and that his bluntness and generosity were always two sides of the same coin.
NationPress
8 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Nana Patekar do the Golmaal Again cameo for free?
According to filmmaker Rohit Shetty, Nana Patekar refused to accept any fee for his cameo in the 2017 film, telling Shetty to instead donate the money to an orphanage. Shetty shared this account in an Instagram tribute following Nana's death on 8 October.
What was Nana Patekar's role in Golmaal Again?
Nana Patekar appeared in a special cameo in Golmaal Again (2017), playing himself, and also lent his voice to a ghost character in the film. The Rohit Shetty directorial was the fourth instalment in the Golmaal comedy franchise.
How did Nana Patekar die?
Nana Patekar was found unresponsive at his Goa residence on 8 October, reportedly after complaining of severe chest discomfort. The veteran actor was 75 years old at the time of his passing.
What did Rohit Shetty say about Nana Patekar in his tribute?
Rohit Shetty described Nana as straight, unfiltered, generous and always genuine. He recalled the veteran's late-night phone calls and said Nana was one of his most honest critics, never softening his views on any of Shetty's films.
How has Bollywood reacted to Nana Patekar's death?
Nana Patekar's demise on 8 October sent shockwaves through the Indian film industry, with several members of the film fraternity publicly expressing their condolences. Tributes have highlighted his decades-long contributions to both Hindi and Marathi cinema.
