Nana Patekar is a critically acclaimed Indian filmmaker and actor. He was born on 1st January, 1951 to Dankar Patekar and Sangana Patekar. He schooled at Sir J.J. Institute of Applied Arts in Mumbai and was active in collegiate dramatics. After graduation he has starred in a number of Bollywood movies, in which he is famous for his unique dialogue delivery style. It has been rumored he ad libs all of his lines.

In 1987, he acted in Mohre, and 1988 saw him act in Salaam Bombay. However, it was in 1989 that the Bollywood industry noticed him when he starred in Parinda. His performance earned him Filmfare Best Supporting Actor Award. In 1992, he won the Filmfare Best Villain Award for the movies Angaar. In films, Petekar has experimented with both hero and villain roles. In 1994, he played a truant gambling son in the movie Krantiveer, played a wife beater in Agni Sakshi (1996). In 1996, he played a deaf and dumb father in Khamoshi: The Musical and a schizophrenic in Wajood (1998).

Nana Patekar directed his first movie Prahaar: The Final Attack, in which he co-starred with Madhuri Dixit. He also acted in Bluff Master, Apaharan and Hu Tu Tu. In Apaharan he made a superb performance that earned him the Star Screen Award for Best Villain and the Filmfare Best Villain Award. Apart from acting and directing, Petekar has also done playback singing in three films: Yeshwant (1997), Wajood (1998) and Aanch (2003).

Patekar has a wife, Neelakanti Patekar. They have a son named Malhar Patekar. He is also a sketch artist.