Veteran actor Nana Patekar passed away on Thursday (October 08, 2026) morning. He was never a traditional Bollywood superstar. Even during the era of stardom, he played only down to earth characters. Even when he played the role of a hero, he was of an angry nature. Like other actors, he did not even sing love songs with the heroine. This actor, who made a name for himself through his hard work without any film connection, came from an ordinary background and achieved success on the basis of his talent. In an interview, Nana Patekar had told that after school, he used to walk about 8 kilometers to Chunabhatti in Mumbai, where he used to paint film posters. In return, he got Rs 35 per month and one meal a day.
Patekar had said that the financial condition of his family had suddenly changed after his father’s property was snatched away. The experience of hunger and financial hardship remained with him for years. That early struggle was a far cry from the wealth he later earned during his career in Hindi and Marathi cinema. Different estimates have been made about his net worth. According to recent reports it is between Rs 60 crore to Rs 80 crore.
Nana Patekar’s journey: from poverty to riches
Nana Patekar often talked about the financial constraints of his childhood. He started working at the age of just 13. While in ninth grade, he used to paint film posters and earn Rs 35 a month. He got his first break in Bollywood in 1978 with the film ‘Gaman’. With time he became one of the most respected actors of Indian cinema. Films like ‘Parinda’, ‘Krantiveer’, ‘Agni Sakshi’, ‘Ab Tak Chhappan’, ‘Natsamrat’ and ‘Welcome’ made him famous in every household.
Along with his career, his earnings also increased. According to media reports, in the last years of his career, he used to charge around Rs 2 to 3 crores for a film. He also used to earn money by participating in other programs and doing brand related work. His net worth was not limited to his earnings from films only.
The special thing is that despite being rich, Nana Patekar was known for his simple lifestyle. He lived in a 750 square feet one-bedroom apartment in Andheri area of Mumbai for many years. This house was purchased decades ago for around Rs 1.1 lakh and is now valued at around Rs 3 crore.
Farmhouse near Pune
He also has a house in Goa. Another important property of Nana Patekar is his farmhouse (about 27 acres) near Khadakwasla, Pune. It is used for agriculture, where crops like wheat and paddy are grown. Similarly, compared to many other Bollywood stars, Nana Patekar has a very simple car collection, he had cars like Mahindra Jeep CJ4, Mahindra Scorpio and Audi Q7. However, Nana Patekar never let luxury or ostentation dictate his choices. It is said that he once refused to spend Rs 1.5 crore on a luxury car and said that he would prefer to use that money to help farmers. This actor was always associated with a simple house, useful things and a simple life.
The actor was living separately from his wife for years
For Nana Patekar, the journey from poverty to wealth was never limited to just the amount in the bank account. In his own words, those difficult early days shaped his outlook towards money, food and success. Nana Patekar is married to Neelkanti Patekar and she is also from the world of acting. Both were living separately for a long time. Both of them have a son Malhar Patekar. Malhar has also done work related to direction. At the same time, if media reports are to be believed, Nana Patekar’s total assets are said to be Rs 80 crore. Obviously this property will be divided between son Malhar and wife Neelkanti Patekar.