This Bollywood actress caused the breakup of Nana’s marriage. Why did the superstar remain estranged from his wife?The personality being discussed today is the wife of one of the biggest superstars in the film industry. If this superstar is a legendary actor, his wife is no less exceptional. For her acting prowess, she has been honored by the Government of Maharashtra and is also an acting Gold Medalist. Just as her husband’s on-screen roles received immense love from the audience, her performances—both on and off-screen—have always been deeply appreciated.When her superstar husband was going through his struggling days, earning a mere ₹50 per play, she was working at a bank with a salary of ₹2,500, fully supporting him through his career journey. She is none other than Neelkanti Patekar—
the wife of veteran Bollywood actor Nana Patekar.Neelkanti and Nana Patekar do not live together today; they are separated. However, they never divorced. While Nana Patekar lives in a separate residence, Neelkanti stays in another home, taking complete care of their son Malhar as well as Nana Patekar’s parents.Neelkanti was born in Pune into an academically inclined family—her father worked in the Excise Department. Despite the academic atmosphere at home, she was passionate about theater. However, she never compromised on her studies for her love of acting and excelled academically, earning a B.Sc. degree in Physics.
Furthermore, at her father’s insistence, she took the IIT entrance examination and successfully cleared it.Despite clearing such a tough examination, Neelkanti chose a career as an actress, earning immense respect, stature, and love in the field. In 1973, she was awarded a Gold Medal by the Government of Maharashtra for her artistic contributions. Later, in 1989, she starred alongside actor Sachin Pilgaonkar in the film Aatmavishwas, a performance that also earned her honors from the Maharashtra state government.Their love story dates back to their theater days. Neelkanti and Nana Patekar met while working together on a film, and their friendship soon blossomed into love. At the time, Nana Patekar was struggling and earning just ₹50, whereas Neelkanti held a stable job at a bank and acted whenever she found time. They got married in 1978. Since Neelkanti was financially stable, she played a pivotal role in helping Nana Patekar build a successful acting career.
A few years after their marriage, they welcomed their first son, whom they named Durva. However, the child was specially challenged—he was blind in one eye and suffered from multiple physical complications. Nana Patekar felt an overwhelming sense of hesitation and inferiority regarding his son’s condition. In an interview, he once shared, “I used to wonder what people would think if they saw my child, questioning what kind of baby was born in my house.” He added, “I regret this deeply because I failed to consider how my child must have felt—a child who couldn’t see out of one eye and was dealing with so many bodily complexities.” The child remained with them for only two and a half years before passing away.
Later, the couple had another son, Malhar, who is currently building his career in the field of acting.While life was initially going well, Nana Patekar’s temperament and personal habits gradually created a rift between them. It is widely known that Nana Patekar has a very short temper. Over time, his name began linking with several leading actresses in the film industry, with his high-profile affair with Manisha Koirala making the biggest headlines.Reports suggest that Nana Patekar and Manisha Koirala were in a live-in relationship. Manisha would visit Nana Patekar’s mother, meet his family, and spend time with his son—living together virtually as husband and wife. These circumstances widened the distance between Nana Patekar and Neelkanti, eventually leading to their separation.However, their separation was unique. Neelkanti fulfilled all her duties as a daughter-in-law and a mother with complete dedication, taking wholehearted care of her son, Nana Patekar’s parents, and his extended family. It was Nana Patekar who ultimately moved out to live in a separate home.Neelkanti was so dedicated to her in-laws and family that she stepped away from both her banking career and mainstream acting to become a full-time homemaker,
while also reducing her theater activities. Over the years, she has performed in numerous plays as a fine theater actress and has also produced several short films.In 2016, she returned to Marathi television serials and featured in the widely discussed movie Bernie. Recently, she garnered praise for her performance in the film Chhaava alongside Vicky Kaushal. Though her role as Dharau in Chhaava was brief, it was deeply impactful. While Neelkanti primarily works in Marathi cinema, she accepted this Hindi project on the personal request of director Laxman Utekar, with whom she shares a warm friendship.Today, Nana Patekar is a legendary name and a phenomenal actor in the film industry. Neelkanti may have done a selective amount of work, but every role she portrayed received widespread acclaim. While her on-screen presence remains memorable, the role she played in her real life is truly extraordinary and deserving of highest admiration.
