Mumbai: An old video of Shah Rukh Khan recalling how Nana Patekar came to his rescue during a jail ordeal has resurfaced online, bringing back memories of the bond between the two actors.
At Tehelka’s Think 2012 event, Shah Rukh recalled landing in jail in the early 1990s, when he was still finding his footing in Mumbai’s film industry and had recently married Gauri Khan. He revealed that a magazine article hinting at an affair between him and a co-star had upset Gauri and left him furious.
Angered by the report, the actor decided to confront the journalist at her home, carrying a ceremonial sword gifted to him by his father-in-law, an Army officer.
Reflecting on his actions, Shah Rukh admitted that he had behaved badly. He said, “I behaved very badly. I was jailed. My father-in-law had given me a sword, as they do in Punjabi weddings. I carried that sword to that journalist’s house. My father-in-law, who is an army officer, said, ‘Son, you have to protect my daughter’. Nobody was saying anything to his daughter but I thought this is a good weapon, sanctioned by the Indian Army.”
Shah Rukh recalled threatening people at the journalist’s residence and injuring a young man’s legs. He was subsequently taken into custody when police arrived on the sets of Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa.
Since it was past 6 pm, he could not secure bail immediately. The actor revealed that Nana Patekar eventually stepped in to help him get out of jail.
“Nana Patekar got me out of jail, finally, and he was very sweet. On a weekend, there’s an evening court that gives you bail or something. I tried to be decent, and I have kind of changed now,” he said.
In a 2024 interview with The Lallantop, Nana Patekar also spoke fondly of Shah Rukh, praising him for continuing to treat people with warmth despite his immense success.
“Aaj bhi bohot pyaar se milta hai. Log bhul jaate hai, woh bhula nahi. Mujhe woh baccha accha lagta hai,” he said, which translates to, “He still meets me with a lot of love. People forget, but he hasn’t forgotten me. I like that boy.”
Following Nana Patekar’s reported demise, Shah Rukh Khan also shared a lengthy, heartfelt note on social media, remembering the veteran actor.