Nana Patekar DeathNana Patekar an artist who, despite living amidst the glitz and glamour of "lights, camera, and action," was known, admired, and recognized by the world for his simplicity. In a film industry dominated by suits and formal attire, Nana often seen with a *gamchha* (traditional cotton towel) around his neck and dressed in a *khadi kurta-pyjama*—was a man who won everyone's hearts.
What made him even more distinctive was his unique style of delivering dialogues, which set him apart from the crowd of other actors. But did you know that Nana Patekar who carved such a unique niche for himself in cinema also used to play cricket? He played on the very grounds in Mumbai where Sunil Gavaskar honed his skills; so, what happened that led him to give up the sport?
Nana used to play cricket at Mumbai's Shivaji Park
Nana Patekar played a lot of cricket during his childhood and shared the field with players who went on to represent the country. In an interview, Nana mentioned that when he was 13 years old, he used to go to Mumbai's famous Shivaji Park to play.
Shivaji Park has been the early training ground for many of the country's great cricketers hailing from Mumbai, and even back when Nana used to play there, other such cricketers would also come to play at the venue.
Nana Patekar played cricket on the same grounds as Sunil Gavaskar!
In an interview with the BBC, Nana Patekar mentioned that when he used to play, he would play alongside Sandeep Patil, who was much younger than him.
Nana noted that Sunil Gavaskar also played cricket on the same grounds where he did. The question arises: why did Nana give up cricket when things were going well?
Why did Nana Patekar quit cricket?
Nana Patekar explained the reason behind this in his interview. He stated that he had injured his finger, which forced him to give up the sport. However, that was not the only reason.
Nana Patekar also needed to take up a job to care for his parents, which was another factor in his decision to leave cricket. After quitting the sport, he enrolled in an art school and eventually entered the film industry.
