Archive · 8 Oct 2026
Anees Bazmee Recalled How Nana Patekar Embraced Welcome Role
Anees Bazmee wanted Nana Patekar to act in his comedy film Welcome.
At first, Nana did not want to hear the story and asked Anees to promise that the role was right for him.
Anees kept asking him to listen and told him the story for about three hours at his home.
Nana liked what he heard and hugged Anees.
He said he was like raw clay and Anees could shape his acting for the part.
Nana played Uday Shetty, a tough man who wanted his sister to marry someone from a respectable family.
Anees said Nana was very easy to work with.
The articles say Nana died after a cardiac arrest, but they give different ages: 75 and 76.
Anees Bazmee said Nana Patekar initially refused to hear the script for Welcome and asked Bazmee to swear the role was right for him.
Bazmee said he persuaded Patekar to listen and narrated the story for about three hours at Patekar’s home.
Afterward, Patekar hugged Bazmee and said he was like raw clay who could be shaped for the role.
Patekar played Uday Shetty, a feared don trying to arrange a respectable marriage for his sister Sanjana, in the 2007 comedy.
Bazmee said Patekar was easy to work with; the reports differ on Patekar’s age at death, giving 75 or 76.
- Who
- Filmmaker Anees Bazmee and actor Nana Patekar.
- What
- Bazmee recalled persuading Patekar to take the role of Uday Shetty in Welcome.
- When
- Bazmee recounted the story on The Kapil Sharma Show Season 2; Welcome was released in 2007.
- Where
- Bazmee said he narrated the script at Patekar’s home.
- Why
- Bazmee wanted Patekar to play Uday Shetty and believed he would excel in a comic role.
First report
Other reports
Nana Patekar’s age at death
First report
One report says he died at age 76.
Other reports
The other two reports say he died at age 75.
- Film
- Welcome
- Release year
- 2007
- Role
- Uday Shetty
- Narration
- Bazmee said he spent about three hours narrating the story.
- Patekar’s response
- He hugged Bazmee and said he could be moulded for the role.
- Bazmee’s view
- He described Patekar as easy and cooperative to work with.
- Reported age at death
- The reports conflict: one says 76, while two say 75.
