Archive · 8 Oct 2026
Nana Patekar Recalled Choosing Natsamrat Film Over Stage Role
Nana Patekar once explained why he played the main character of Natsamrat in a movie rather than on stage.
He said the role was so emotionally demanding that he worried it might harm his health.
He joked that he might have suffered a heart attack after 25 performances.
Earlier actors, including Vikram Gokhale and Dr Shriram Lagoo, had played the role on stage.
Nana admired how much they gave to each performance.
The 2016 movie was based on a Marathi play by Kusumagraj.
It tells the story of Ganpatrao, a retired theatre actor, and his wife Kaveri.
After he shares his wealth with his children, the couple faces neglect and hardship.
At a Nagpur event, Nana Patekar said he chose the 2016 film Natsamrat instead of performing its lead role on stage.
He said he feared the role’s emotional intensity could cause him to suffer a heart attack after 25 shows.
Patekar recalled lead performers in the stage production, including Vikram Gokhale, Dr Shriram Lagoo, Datta Bhat and Chandrakant Gokhale.
He praised those actors’ performances and said they put their whole lives into the role.
The film, based on Kusumagraj’s Marathi play, follows retired theatre actor Ganpatrao Belwalkar and his wife Kaveri.
- Who
- Actor Nana Patekar, discussing his decision to portray Ganpatrao Belwalkar in the film Natsamrat.
- What
- He said he chose the film rather than the stage play because he feared the role’s intensity could cause a heart attack.
- When
- The remarks were made at an event in Nagpur; the article does not give the event date. Natsamrat was released in 2016.
- Where
- Jal Kranti Parishad at Reshimbagh, Nagpur.
- Why
- Patekar believed the emotional demands of performing the lead role on stage could take a serious toll on him.
Nana Patekar's concern
Stage performers' commitment
Performing the role on stage
Nana Patekar's concern
Patekar said he feared the role’s emotional intensity could cause him to suffer a heart attack after 25 shows, so he chose the film.
Stage performers' commitment
He praised the actors who performed the stage role, saying they gave excellent performances and put their whole lives into it.
- Film
- Natsamrat
- Film release
- 2016
- Role played by Nana Patekar
- Ganpatrao Ramchandra Belwalkar
- Character's popular title
- Natsamrat
- Source play author
- Kusumagraj (V. V. Shirwadkar)
- Patekar's stated concern
- He feared he might suffer a heart attack after 25 stage performances.
- Stage actors recalled
- Vikram Gokhale, Dr Shriram Lagoo, Datta Bhat and Chandrakant Gokhale