India, Oct. 8 -- For filmmaker Aditya Sarpotdar, working with Nana Patekar on Shakti Shalini was more than an opportunity to direct the legendary actor. Nana was not just someone Sarpotdar had admired on-screen, but also a family friend. The news of Nana's sudden death on Thursday (October 8) came as a shock to the director.

"It's very shocking for me. Just a few days ago, I had a long call with him about how he was excited to see the final film," Sarpotdar tells HT City exclusively, recalling their last conversation. The film, which stars Aneet Padda and is expected to release later this year or early next year, had already been completely shot.

"He was my grandfather's friend. So I have seen him, grown up around stories of him."

That...