Mumbai, October 8, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Filmmaker Anees Bazmee has asked the media for some time to process the death of veteran actor Nana Patekar, saying he is currently unable to speak about the loss.
Bazmee and Patekar shared a memorable professional association through the 2007 comedy Welcome, in which Patekar played the iconic character Uday Shankar Shetty.
Addressing his media friends in a message shared on social media, Bazmee said he was deeply saddened and needed time to come to terms with the actor’s death.
“I’m really sorry, but I’m not in a condition to talk right now. I’m deeply saddened and still unable to process what has happened. Please give me some time. I genuinely don’t have the words or the state of mind to say anything at the moment. This is an unbearable loss and an unbearable pain for me and for all of us,” he wrote.
Bazmee’s collaboration with Patekar in Welcome produced one of the actor’s most popular comic performances. Patekar portrayed Uday, a feared underworld figure whose intimidating image contrasted with his obsession with finding a suitable husband for his sister Sanjana, played by Katrina Kaif.
In an earlier interview, Bazmee had recalled convincing Patekar, who was widely known for intense dramatic roles, to take on comedy. The filmmaker said he believed the actor would excel in the genre.
Patekar agreed after reading the script and, according to Bazmee’s recollection, told the director that he was like “kachhi mitti” and could be moulded according to his direction.
His pairing with Anil Kapoor, who played Majnu Bhai, became one of the film’s major attractions. Patekar’s dialogue delivery and comic timing helped turn Uday into one of Hindi cinema’s memorable comedy characters.
Lines such as “Control Uday, control” became widely recognised, while the vegetable-selling sequence featuring “Aloo le lo, kaanda le lo…” also became a cult moment from the film.
Patekar died on October 8, 2026, at the age of 75 after suffering a cardiac arrest at his residence in Dona Paula, Goa.
Akshay Kumar, who shared screen space with Patekar in Welcome and later worked with him again in Housefull 5, also paid tribute to the veteran actor.
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