By Subhash K Jha

Known for his volatile temper and no-nonsense demeanour, it came as no surprise to know that Nana who had a run-in with Akshay Kumar on the sets of Anees Bazmi's Welcome, was heard screaming at his young co-star Nakul Vaid during a film that they did together.

Said an onlooker, "Nana looked really angry. And Nakul seemed scared when Nana shouted across the room to him. The entire unit fell silent."

Expecting to hear a tearful narration on Nana's infamous temper, one is surprised when Nakul, who plays a filmmaker based on Gautam Ghose in Yatra, just laughed.

"When Nana shouts at you, it means he loves you. The louder he shouts the more he loves you. And what happened in Kolkata made me realize Nana-ji is one of his kind. You won't find a larger heart than his in the film industry."

Apparently earlier during the day Nakul had mucked up a particular scene with Nana. "Since I didn't have the guts to ask Nana to do it again for me, I just kept quiet and withdrew into a shell.

In the evening we all used to have dinner together in the hotel. But that evening I didn't turn up. The next thing I know Nana-ji was shouting at me. 'Why didn't you tell me you weren't coming?

I was waiting for you? What do you think of yourself?' This was his way of showing that he knew I was upset and that he was there to make it right for me. Such is the nobility of this man."

Nakul has known Nana Patekar from the time he came into the industry.

"It'd have been impossible for me to survive without his guidance and support, Out of the six films I've done so far three have been with Nana. He recommended me to Ram Gopal Varma for Ab Tak Chappan.

Otherwise I'd have never got such a plum role. Yatra, I got on my own. But every scene of mine is with Nana-ji. Having worked with him in three films I feel I've grown as an actor."

In an industry where mentor-protégé relationships go kaput in no time at all (check out Ramu and his various protégés, or Kangana and the Bhatts) it looks like Nakul's relationship with Nana is here to stay.

"I feel I've a father –figure in the industry. I'm like Nana-ji's son Malhar," concludes Nakul emotionally.