The late actor Nana Patekar once revealed in a candid conversation that his close friend and fellow actor Anil Kapoor had 'bullied' him considerably during the making of the 1989 classic Parinda. The disclosure, made during promotions for the film Vanvaas, has resurfaced following Patekar's passing, offering a rare behind-the-scenes glimpse into one of Hindi cinema's most celebrated films.

What Nana Patekar Said About Being Replaced

In the now-viral video, Patekar spoke directly to Kapoor about how he had originally been rehearsing for the role of Jackie Shroff's character — the elder brother — before eventually being replaced. 'You have bullied me a lot in Parinda. I was doing Jackie Shroff's role, his elder brother's role. We rehearsed, we did this, we did that. Later, Jackie came because of him,' Patekar said, addressing Kapoor with characteristic candour.

Despite the circumstances, Patekar was philosophical about the outcome. 'I want to thank him because I got to play Anna,' he added, referring to the iconic antagonist role that would go on to define his career. He did note, however, that Kapoor apparently could not picture him as a brother figure: 'He couldn't see me as a brother. As per you, Jackie could be your brother in the film but not me.'

Anil Kapoor's Honest Defence

Kapoor, for his part, did not deflect responsibility entirely. 'I might be wrong, but I felt that for my brother's role, I felt Jackie would be the best choice. I'm being very honest with you,' he said. He was also quick to acknowledge that the final call had never been his alone: 'You give suggestions to a director. Ultimately, decisions are always made by a director. A director is a director, a filmmaker is a filmmaker. He must have felt that Jackie is a better choice.'

Patekar, ever generous, conceded the point good-naturedly — 'Jackie did a good job. He got a Filmfare Award' — and Kapoor followed with a personal assurance: 'I will never deceive you with a film.'

Parinda's Legacy and the Anna Role

Released in 1989 and directed by Vidhu Vinod Chopra, Parinda is widely regarded as a landmark of Indian crime cinema. The role of Anna — the menacing underworld kingpin that Patekar ultimately played — earned him widespread critical acclaim and is still considered one of the finest villain portrayals in Bollywood history. Notably, the casting shuffle that Patekar described inadvertently placed him in the role that cemented his reputation.

Remembering Nana Patekar

The video has gained fresh resonance following Nana Patekar's death at the age of 75 in Goa after suffering a cardiac arrest. He was taken to hospital, where doctors reportedly attempted CPR and resuscitation for approximately 45 minutes, but was declared dead on arrival.

The actor was cremated with full state honours at his farmhouse in Donje, Pune district, on Thursday, and was accorded a 3-gun salute. His final journey drew members of the film fraternity including Jackie Shroff, directors Anil Sharma and Aneez Bazmee, and producer Firoz Nadiadwala. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis paid his respects at Pune airport before departing for Mumbai, while Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde visited the Pune farmhouse to pay his final respects. A large crowd gathered at Donje village to bid farewell to the veteran actor.