📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Bollywood Hungama
Entertainment
Nana Patekar: From 16‑km Walks to Painting Film Posters in Childhood
✍️ The Indian Express
🗓 09 Oct 2026, 03:48 AM
👁 18
The veteran actor recalls painting film posters for just Rs 35 a month and walking 16 km to work during his childhood.
Nana Patekar, now a celebrated figure in Indian cinema, has spoken about his humble beginnings in a recent interview. As a child, he took up the job of painting film posters, earning a modest ₹35 a month for his work.
The young Patekar’s daily routine involved a long walk of approximately 16 kilometres to reach the studio where he would apply his artistic skills. This arduous commute was a routine part of his early life, reflecting the determination that would later define his career.
Despite the limited earnings, the experience of creating posters for popular films gave him an early exposure to the film industry’s creative processes. It also instilled in him a strong work ethic and an appreciation for the collaborative nature of filmmaking.
Today, Patekar’s journey from a poster painter to a leading actor serves as an inspiration to many, illustrating how perseverance and passion can transform modest beginnings into lasting success.
The young Patekar’s daily routine involved a long walk of approximately 16 kilometres to reach the studio where he would apply his artistic skills. This arduous commute was a routine part of his early life, reflecting the determination that would later define his career.
Despite the limited earnings, the experience of creating posters for popular films gave him an early exposure to the film industry’s creative processes. It also instilled in him a strong work ethic and an appreciation for the collaborative nature of filmmaking.
Today, Patekar’s journey from a poster painter to a leading actor serves as an inspiration to many, illustrating how perseverance and passion can transform modest beginnings into lasting success.