Acclaimed actor Nana Patekar who has always been known for his socially awakening roles refused to accept any fee for ‘Paathshaala' and instead insisted that producer Shaira Khan donate the amount to a few charitable trusts that the actor has been involved with.

Confirming the news, producer Shaira Khan says, "Initially, he told us that we should make five cheques to cover his fee for the project. But when it was time to actually hand them over to him, he took us by surprise. He told us to issue the cheques in the names of the charitable organizations."

Adds Shaira, "There is so much hearsay about Nana Patekar and the kind of person he is. But any such thoughts banished from my first meeting with him. For me, he is a sweetheart. He is great fun to work with. Shooting with him made us realize that Nana is a grossly misunderstood man. He will always remain an absolute delight for us."

Nana Patekar who plays a school principal in the ‘Paathshaala' was touched by the concept of the film which revolves around the pressures that children face at the hands of our Indian education system these days.

He felt it would be wrong to charge a fee for such a noble cause and thus decided to reach out to the less fortunate sections of society through donations.

Shahid Kapoor, who also plays a pivotal role in the film, has also refused to charge any remuneration for the film.

Well, given the current scenario of the problems surrounding the children, this gesture by Nana and Shahid has surely highlighted their support to the worthy cause.

Presented by Eros International, ‘Paathshaala' is directed by Milind Ukey and produced by Shaira Khan (Paperdoll Entertainment). The film's story and screenplay are by Ahmed Khan and music is by Hanif Shaikh. The film stars Nana Patekar, Shahid Kapoor and Ayesha Takia in pivotal roles along with popular child artists Swini Khara, Avika Gor, Ali Haji and Dwij Narendra Yadav.

Paathshaala hits theatres this April.