Nana Patekar compares yesteryear stars with today's actors: 'Fame is measured by...'

Nana Patekar, who is set to appear in Vivek Agnihotri’s The Vaccine War next, recently opened up about the end of superstardom. The 72-year-old further articulated how the value and craze associated with actors’ fan following now changes within a week.

In a recent interview with DNA, the Salaam Bombay! actor reminisced the precedent set forth by the acting legends and superstars whose stardom remains established till date. To name a few, he said, actors like Dilip Kumar, Raj Kapoor and Dev Anand are key parts of the memory even today.

On yesteryear’s and today’s actors

Nana Patekar remembered late superstars whose stardom remains intact even now. The Ab Tak Chhappan actor further added how it is almost impossible to forget yesteryear Bollywood stars like Yusuf Saab, fondly known as Dilip Kumar and Raj Kapoor, Dev Anand among others. Even though they have long died, it is difficult to erase them from memory, Nana Patekar said.

While at the same time, the actor compared veteran actors’ popularity to the fleeting recognition revered by contemporary actors. Questioning their short-lived stardom, the Welcome To The Jungle actor added that today, fame is measured by box office figures. The actor stated, “Humare yaha aaj kal har hafte mein star badalta hai. Yeh sab aankade hai bas (Today, stardom lasts for a week. These are all figures).”

On the rise of OTT

As part of the same interview, Nana Patekar talked about the emergence of OTT platforms over the years. The Welcome actor also opened up about how the recent rise of OTT has given more opportunities for average-looking actors to showcase their talent.

Talking about ‘quintessential heroes’ like him, Nana Patekar stated that OTT platforms provide opportunities for them to showcase their talent. Counting himself among actors who lacked a credible face, Nana Patekar mentioned that people like Om Puri, Irrfan (Khan), Manoj Bajpayee and Raghubir Yadav all fall into the same category. With OTT, he added, people have another medium after theatre and cinema to showcase their talent.

About The Vaccine War  

Director Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri’s The Vaccine War stars Nana Patekar, Raima Sen, Pallavi Joshi, Girija Oak Godbole and Saptami Gowda among others. The movie is slated for release in cinemas on 28 September.

Nana is portrayed as the head of the Indian scientist team that developed India’s first vaccine against the COVID-19 pandemic.

Nana Patekar on work front

Nana Patekar has been part of the Indian film industry for over three decades. Some of his most notable works include Parinda (1989), Krantiveer (1994), Khamoshi: The Musical (1996) and Welcome (2007).