Nana Patekar says Anil Kapoor got him dropped from Parinda out of insecurity: He said ‘Main Nana ko kyun star banau?’

Nana Patekar revealed he was initially supposed to play Jackie Shroff's part in Parinda, but Anil Kapoor later told him that he got Nana replaced.

Nana Patekar was initially supposed to play Jackie Shroff's part, Anil Kapoor's elder brother, in Vidhu Vinod Chopra's 1989 film Parinda. In an interview with The Lallantop, Nana has now revealed why he was dropped from the film. (Also Read – Nana Patekar on Tanushree Dutta's sexual harassment allegations against him during MeToo: 'Why should I be angry?')

Nana on why he was dropped

Anil Kapoor and Nana Patekar were co-stars in Parinda

“I was initially going to do Jackie's role. Naseer (Naseeruddin Shah) was supposed to play Anna (the part eventually played by Nana). Then Naseer backed out. Anil and I did a lot of rehearsals. I prepared for six months. I recently asked Anil, ‘You asked Vinod to drop me from the film?’ He said, ‘I thought Nana ko kyu star banau main (why should I make Nana the star)? It was obvious that you’d become a star had you played Jackie's part.' I told him, ‘Didn’t I tell you that whatever role you give me, I'd become the star anyway. Nobody would look at you,'” Nana said.

Nana on why he agreed to play Anna

“All's well between Anil and me these days. But at that time, he was a star. He asked Vinod to drop me from the film and he did. I also walked out. Three-four months later, Vinod came to me. He asked me if I'd play Anna. I first felt angry, then I agreed. He then said he'd pay me whatever my market rate is. I said obviously, that you will, you're not doing me a favour. I just said I'll rewrite my part,” Nana added. He said that he's had other issues with Vidhu Vinod Chopra, and whenever he meets him, he hopes it's the last time.