Veteran actor Nana Patekar, who won a bronze medal at the state level for gun shooting, says he loves both films and gun shootings.

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

"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," he added.

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, 'Bluffmaster' was great fun. He (Nana's character in the film) 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 and Chitra Palekar on two different projects. And Malhar is an amazing dancer. You know what an amazing dancer I am?" says Nana at his ironical best.

"I've left a choice of career to him. When I started, I had to think of everything, including 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 recently featured in Goutam Ghose's "Yatra".

"After a long time I've done a role I'm happy about with 'Yatra'. I loved working with Ghose. I worked with Rekha and Ghose for the first time. For many years I kept abusing and accusing Ghose 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 wouldn't charge him a single penny. I gave him 40-50 days and didn't charge anything."

He's unhappy with the way "Yatra" was released without publicity. "I don't like this. I've worked so hard. In fact, we all have. Such delicate films need to be promoted very carefully."

But he cheers up. "I've just completed a comedy 'Welcome' with Anees Bazmi."

He admits he had a bit of a run-in with Akhsay 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 doesn't enjoy talking about unpleasant episodes.

"Let's talk about more pleasant things. I've a suspense thriller with director Sangeeth Sivan and Bobby Deol. Bobby is such a sweet guy. He has taken after his father.

"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...I don't want anything else. 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."

The actor 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."

Though Nana and his wife Neelkanti have been living separately, they have not divorced yet.

"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."