7 best Nana Patekar movies that are as versatile as Welcome actor

As a huge fan of Indian cinema, I have had the pleasure of witnessing Nana Patekar’s extraordinary acting skills throughout various genres and films during my film-watching journey. His captivating performances in movies like Apaharan, Krantiveer, and Agni Sakshi have left an indelible mark on me.


I’m absolutely in awe of Nana Patekar’s enduring presence in Indian cinema. For decades, this remarkable actor has not only weathered the ever-changing landscape of Bollywood but also enriched its history with an impressive body of work. From side-splitting comedies to heart-pumping action-thrillers, I can’t get enough of Nana Patekar’s movies. Time and again, I find myself revisiting these cinematic gems that continue to captivate cinephiles like me in search of top-notch content.

Nana, originally named Vishwanath Patekar, began his acting journey with the 1978 drama film “Gaman.” His talent shone in the Marathi film industry, where he achieved great success and graced the screens of numerous award-winning movies. In this piece, we delve into the remarkable acting career of the esteemed senior actor and revisit some of his standout performances.

7 best Nana Patekar movies that make him a veteran star:

1. The Attacks of 26/11

  • Cast: Nana Patekar, Sanjeev Jaiswal
  • IMDB Rating: 6.9/10
  • Release year: 2013
  • Genre: Action/Crime/Drama
  • Where to watch: Jio Cinema
  • Director: Ram Gopal Varma

The movie “26/11 Attacks” is a significant production in Indian cinema history, recounting the events of ten armed terrorists who arrived by sea and claimed numerous innocent lives over a 72-hour span in Mumbai. This film is adapted from Rommel Rodrigues’s book “Kasab: The Face of 26/11.” Sanjeev Jaiswal makes his acting debut in the production, while Nana Patekar portrays Rakesh Maria, a former Home Guards Director General.

2. Salaam Bombay

  • Cast: Nana Patekar, Shafiq Syed, Hansa Vithal, Raghuvir Yadav, Irrfan Khan, Anita Kanwar, Raju Bernad
  • IMDB Rating: 7.9/10
  • Release year: 1988
  • Genre: Crime/Drama
  • Where to watch: YouTube
  • Director: Mira Nair

Nana Patekar’s career reached new heights with the Academy Award-nominated film “Salaam Bombay!” (1989). In this moving story set in Mumbai’s slums, young Krishna battles to stay alive amidst drug dealers and other vices. Nana Patekar shines as Baba, guiding him through the hardships. This groundbreaking film also took home the National Film Award for Best Hindi Feature Film that same year.

3. Shagird

  • Cast: Nana Patekar, Zakir Hussain, Mohit Ahlawat, Rimi Sen, Anurag Kashyap
  • IMDB Rating: 7.0/10
  • Release year: 2011
  • Genre: Action/Crime
  • Where to watch: Prime Video, Zee5
  • Director: Tigmanshu Dhulia

In the film “Shagird,” Nana Patekar portrays Senior Inspector Hanumant Singh, who plays a significant part. However, his relentless pursuit of money and efforts to rescue his kidnapped girlfriend resulted in a dangerous situation for many, ultimately leading to a sad outcome.

4. Welcome

  • Cast: Nana Patekar, Anil Kapoor, Akshay Kumar, Katrina Kaif, Paresh Rawal, Feroz Khan, Mallika Sherawat
  • IMDB Rating: 7.1/10
  • Release year: 2007
  • Genre: Comedy/Drama
  • Where to watch: Prime Video
  • Director: Anees Bazmee

Nata Patekar’s performance in “Welcome” is among his best movies, which is highly recommended for viewers. In this mass entertainer, Patekar sets aside his usual angry villain persona and delivers expert-level straight comedy. His character, Don Uday Shetty, has since gained iconic status and is frequently featured in popular memes.

5. Apaharan

  • Cast: Nana Patekar, Ajay Devgn, Bipasha Basu
  • IMDB Rating: 7.4/10
  • Release year: 2005
  • Genre: Action/Crime
  • Where to watch: Prime Video
  • Director: Prakash Jha

In Apaharan, the intricate bond between a father and his son is portrayed. They both hold conflicting beliefs in Bihar and face obstacles as a powerful politician and notorious kidnapping ring leader, Tabrez Alam (performed by Nana Patekar), interferes. Nana Patekar’s menacing portrayal of Tabrez Alam earned him recognition as the Best Villain in the film.

6. Krantiveer

  • Cast: Nana Patekar, Dimple Kapadia, Atul Agnihotri, Mamta Kulkarni
  • IMDB Rating: 7.4/10
  • Release year: 1994
  • Genre: Action/Crime
  • Where to watch: Prime Video
  • Director: Mehul Kumar

In this collection of top Nana Patekar films, we come to Krantiveer next. As Pratap Narayan Tilak, his performance held audiences captivated and received accolades from both critics and fans. This movie was a box office success in 1995 and brought him the Nation Films Award for Best Actor.

7. Agni Sakshi

  • Cast: Nana Patekar, Jackie Shroff, Manisha Koirala
  • IMDB Rating: 6.4/10
  • Release year: 1996
  • Genre: Musical/Romance
  • Where to watch: Prime Video
  • Director: Partho Ghosh

The actor excelled in the romance genre as well, giving a stellar performance in the film “Agni Shakti.” In this production, released in 1997, he took on the character of Vishwanath, earning him his second National Film Award for Best Supporting Actor. This movie was inspired by the American psychological thriller “Sleeping with the Enemy,” where Julia Roberts starred.

In the past year, Nana Patekar appeared in the documentary film “The Vaccine War” together with Anupam Kher, Pallavi Joshi, Raima Sen, and other actors such as Girija Oak.

In 1991, he began his directorial journey with Prahaar: The Final Attack and created Marathi films such as Natsamrat and Aapla Manus. Some must-watch movies from his filmography include Raajneeti, Angaar, Parinda, Raju Ban Gaya Gentleman, Shakti: The Power, Ab Tak Chhappan, and Kaala.

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2024-07-20 19:08