My wife and I are not divorced

By Subhash K Jha

He's an insatiable traveler. And makes no bones about the fact that life is a journey to collect material for the roles he plays.

"Acting, earlier in dramas then films, has always been a passion. And now there's a shooting of another kind. I won a bronze medal at the state level for my gun-shooting. So I enjoy both the shootings.

Whatever I do I've to do with equal passion.. Even if I'm hanging up curtains I've to make sure they hang well, " Nana chuckles.

He divides his time between Mumbai and Pune. "I like to travel. I like to meet people. It helps me grow as an actor. I feel I'm now enjoying my work much more than before. I thoroughly enjoyed my work in Apaharan and Taxi No 9211. And of course Bluff Master was great fun. He was a weird kind of villain."

Nana is the happiest while talking about his son Malhar. "He's interested in cinematography, direction and writing. Since I'm doing a film with Rohit Shetty for Ramesh Sippy. He may come there with me to assist Rohit.

He has already assisted Amol Plaekar and Chitra Palekar on two different projects. And Malhar is an amazing dancer. You know what an amazing dancer I am?" Nana is at his ironical best.

"I've left a choice of career to him. When I started I had to think of everything including a buying a house. Malhar can take it easy. He can do what he wants. All I want him is to have the right values."

Nana is gung-ho about Goutam Ghose's Yatra. "After a long time I've done a role in Yatra I'm happy about. I loved working with Gautam Ghose.

I worked with Rekha and Gautam for the first time. For many years I kept abusing and accusing Gautam of not working with me in Antarjali Yatra. I've been wanting to work with him for a very long time.

The minute I heard the script of Yatra I told him I won't charge him a single penny. I gave him 40-50 days and didn't charge anything."

He admits he had a bit of a run-in with Akshay Kumar during Welcome. "These things happen. Why play it up? Akshay is a very good boy and he's working hard. If I'm angry I'll abuse in the face, and finish with my fury. It was between two individuals. Nowadays even before anything happens, the media is informed."

He chuckles. " Let's talk about more pleasant things. I've a suspense thriller with Sangeeth Sivan with Bobby Deol.

Dekh lo pataa chalega kya hai. Bobby is such a sweet guy. He has taken after his father. Kamaal ka parivar. Sangeeth was a pleasure to work with. He's very clear about what he does. I'd love to work with him again. All in all I'm very happy with life.

God has given me a great life. Great friends…Aur kuch nahin chahiye…Now let me see what I can give to people. "

Tell him all his directors like to repeat him and he counters, "Listen, I give a hundred percent of myself to my work. Acting isn't work for me. So naturally that passion is understood and appreciated by filmmakers."

Nana has one policy in his career. "Once I've completed the dubbing and shooting of a film I like to move on. Whether people like it or not, is in no one's hands…

I'm happy with my life, mother, son and my wife…My wife and I aren't divorced. She's more a friend now than a spouse. We meet every day.

Whatever I'm today is because of her. When I wanted to become an actor she was working in a bank and let me do whatever I wanted."