Vishal Bhardwaj talked about a surprising reason why he hadn’t worked with the experienced actor Nana Patekar for over twenty years – mostly, it was his fault, and a bit that he’d been put off by him. The director was open on a funny talk show, while he was promoting his new movie, O Romeo.
Vishal Bhardwaj on Why It Took So Long to Work with Nana Patekar
Vishal said he hadn’t ever given Nana a good enough role, and called that a mistake. He also said that despite Nana Patekar being a kind person, nearly everyone is a little bit afraid of him, and that fear stopped him from asking him before.
Vishal remembered Nana joking with him, and often going on at him, that he was an actor and wanted a part. Vishal said he’d been embarrassed by these times, which meant their work together was put off until O Romeo gave him the correct part.
The Trailer Showing and the Leaving
The talk also came to a recent trailer showing where Nana had apparently left after being made to wait for about sixty minutes. The show’s presenter made a light joke about how Nana leaving things gets more news than him actually being at things.
Vishal spoke about the event with fondness and humour, and said Nana was the most troublesome boy in a classroom – someone who both bullied and amused. He said he’d known Nana for 27 years and understood the actor’s usual way of getting up and walking out.
Working Together and Their First Work
O Romeo is the first time Vishal Bhardwaj and Nana Patekar have been on the same project, even though they’ve known each other for a long time personally. The film has a large group of actors, including Shahid Kapoor, Triptii Dimri, and others who came to promotional events to help with the release.
Vishal felt that working with Nana let him use the actor’s strength and weakness on screen. Nana’s being there gives importance and surprise, things that experienced directors often find both hard and good.
O Romeo in Cinemas and Early Box Office Numbers
O Romeo came out in cinemas on February 13th and got mixed opinions from critics and viewers. Early box office numbers put the film’s total takings at about Rs 20.75 crore in its first two days – a careful but noticeable start.
The large group of actors and big promotions, including being on the TV talk show, were to make people talk about the movie. Vishal and the actors used honest moments to make people talk about the film and its ideas.
What People Said and Social Media Noise
Nana Patekar’s leaving and Vishal’s open saying of what he felt made people on social media platforms talk about respect, temper, and what is right in jobs. Parts of the show and what people said were quickly sent around, making people more curious about how the actors got on in the film.
This social noise shows that people want more stories about what happens behind the scenes, which makes famous artists seem more human. People often like honesty and humour, and Vishal’s words added a way people could relate to the film’s publicity.
What This Means for Future Work Together
Vishal’s saying that he’d been put off by Nana shows how someone’s reputation and character can change who is cast. But their finally working together shows that both people respecting each other and the correct script can get past being unsure.
Their first work together might make other directors think about using experienced actors for parts that suit them. For the people watching, the two of them working together gives another reason to watch O Romeo, where work and real life meet on screen.
