Nana Patekar once rescued Shah Rukh Khan from a police station. SRK never forgot the favour. 'He got me out of jail and was very sweet'

Veteran actor Nana Patekar's death has brought back memories of the many relationships he formed during his long acting career, including his bond with the Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan. Years before Shah Rukh became one of India's biggest stars, Patekar had reportedly helped him out of a police station after an angry confrontation over a magazine report.

The incident goes back to the early 1990s, when Shah Rukh was still very young and was establishing himself in Bollywood. He had been married to Gauri Khan for only a couple of years and was working on Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa when a report linking him romantically with a co-star upset him.

Shah Rukh Khan confronted a journalist

Speaking at Tehelka's Think 2012 event, Shah Rukh recalled how the report had upset Gauri. He said he called the journalist, who told him that the story had been written as a joke.

The actor then went to confront the people responsible behind it. He was even carrying a ceremonial weapon given to him by his father-in-law, an army officer, during his wedding. However, Shah Rukh did admit that the confrontation went too far. According to him, he threatened people at the premises and injured a young man with what was actually a kukri.

The incident eventually brought the police to the Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa sets and Shah Rukh was taken to a police station; because he arrived there after 6pm, he could not get bail immediately. “I behaved very badly. I was jailed. My father-in-law had given me a sword, as they do in Punjabi weddings. I carried that sword to that journalist's house," he said recalling the incident.

Shah Rukh was allowed one phone call

Shah Rukh later described how he was allowed to make one phone call from the police station. Rather than calling a lawyer or family member, he called the same person involved in the confrontation and continued to threaten him. "Now, I've even been to jail for this. Now, when I will come out and cut you up,” he said, revealed Shah Rukh.

He eventually decided to let the matter go, saying that his wife was deeply disturbed by what had happened. That was when Nana Patekar stepped in to help the young actor.

Shah Rukh said it was Patekar who helped get him out of jail, “Nana Patekar got me out of jail, finally, and he was very sweet. On a weekend, there's an evening court that gives you bail or something. I tried to be decent, and I have kind of changed now.”

The two actors had worked together in Raju Ban Gaya Gentleman, which was directed by Aziz Mirza and released in 1992.

Nana Patekar said SRK never forgot him

Patekar himself later spoke warmly about his relationship with Shah Rukh. In an interview with The Lallantop, he said the superstar still meets him with the same affection even after so many years have passed.

“Aaj bhi bohot pyaar se milta hai. Log bhul jaate hai, woh bhula nahi. Mujhe woh baccha accha lagta hai,” Nana said, explaining that he still regarded Shah Rukh as a child he was fond of.

Patekar also recalled meeting Shah Rukh at the International Film Festival of India in Goa and said the actor greeted him with the same warmth as if no time had passed since they worked together.

Patekar, who died at 75 after suffering a cardiac arrest at his home in Goa, had a career spanning Hindi and Marathi cinema, theatre and filmmaking. His work included films such as Parinda, Krantiveer, Agni Sakshi, Khamoshi: The Musical, Ab Tak Chhappan, Welcome and Natsamrat.