India, Oct. 8 -- Reflecting on the passing of the late actor Nana Patekar, filmmaker Mehul Kumar, who worked with him on three projects including Tiranga (1993), Krantiveer (1994), and Kohram (1999) says, "He always brought something of his own to the table as an actor that made his characters unforgettable. He understood acting in a way few do." Their connection, Kumar notes, transcended professional boundaries; it was a bond rooted in family.

Their collaboration began with Tiranga, a project that paired Nana with the veteran actor Rajkumar. "People used to say that this film would never be complete," Kumar recalls. "But it became a super hit" " This was followed by Kohram, which featured an unusual pairing of Amitabh Bachchan and Nana,...