Nana Patekar’s portrayal of the hilariously volatile don, Uday Shetty, is one of the most iconic performances in modern Bollywood comedy. His “control, Uday, control” dialogue and explosive chemistry with Anil Kapoor’s “Majnu Bhai” are legendary. However, convincing the intense, dramatic actor, known for ‘Tirangaa’ and ‘Krantiveer’, to take on such a slapstick role was a massive challenge. Director Anees Bazmee revealed the hilarious story of how he managed this casting coup.
Nana Patekar’s skeptical initial reaction
Anees Bazmee shared the full story on how he convinced Nana Patekar on the ‘The Kapil Sharma Show’. He had been a huge fan of Nana Patekar’s work and was convinced that the serious actor had incredible, untapped comedic potential. “I felt that the day he does comedy, he will be amazing,” Bazmee said. When the director finally called him for the role, Patekar’s response was sharp and skeptical. Bazmee recalled, “I called him… ‘Nana ji, I want to meet you.’ He said, ‘Kaahe ko? (But why?)'”. When Bazmee insisted he had a film script, Patekar was completely uninterested in hearing the story at all.
The ‘mother’s oath’ gamble
Knowing he couldn’t give up, Bazmee went to meet the actor in person. Patekar, still refusing to hear the script, cut straight to the chase with an unusual and intense demand. “He told me, ‘I don’t want to hear the story. Tu apni maa ki kasam kha ke bol ki yeh film mere liye aachi hai, mujhe karni chahiye’ (Swear on your mother that this film is right for me and I should do it’),” Bazmee recalled. This put the director in a very tough spot, as he didn’t want to take such a serious oath lightly for a film.
A three-hour narration and a heartfelt promise
Bazmee managed to negotiate, convincing Patekar to at least listen to the narration. He playfully offered a 3-hour, 30-minute, or 3-minute version. Patekar chose the full 3-hour one. After the detailed narration, a visibly moved Patekar hugged his director. He then made a heartfelt promise that Bazmee says he will never forget: “Anees, I am raw clay (kachhi mitti). When I come to your set, mold me in whatever shape you want.” Despite Patekar’s reputation for being “tough,” Bazmee said he was the easiest and most dedicated actor to work with.However, fans were disappointed to learn that Nana Patekar and Anil Kapoor, the iconic Uday Bhai–Majnu Bhai duo, will not return for ‘Welcome to the Jungle’. In an interview with The Lallantop, Nana said, “They did approach us. We said no. Kahani nahi hai. Utna mazza nahi aaya.” Earlier, at ‘The Vaccine War’ trailer launch, he quipped, “Maybe they think hum bahut puraane ho gaye hain (we’ve become outdated).” The ‘Welcome’ franchise now continues with Akshay Kumar in ‘Welcome to the Jungle’, directed by Anees Bazmee, with the release date yet to be announced. Go to Source
