Veteran actor Nana Patekar attended Dr Gangubai Hangal’s birthday event in 2006
Patekar visited Hubballi on March 5, 2006, for Dr Gangubai’s 74th birthday celebration and her 75th music concert at Sawai Gandharva Hall.
Dr Gangubai’s granddaughter Vaishnavi Hangal said Patekar came directly to her residence in Deshpandenagar and sat on the floor holding her feet. However, he became immersed in her music, apologised for his plan and became an admirer, Vaishnavi said. Dr Gangubai’s grandson Mahesh Hangal said Patekar attended all her events in Pune and Mumbai and regularly visited Sawai Gandharva Sangeet Utsav in Pune, where he met her. At the venue, he interacted with disabled and underprivileged children and personally distributed pedhas to them, Mahesh said.
He also sought her blessings. He politely declined her request to sit on a chair and spoke with her for hours. At the evening event, Patekar escorted Dr Gangubai from the entrance to the stage while holding her hands. He attended as a guest at the birthday celebration and concert. Addressing the gathering, Patekar recalled that as a young man he had planned to disrupt Dr Gangubai’s concert at St Xavier College in Mumbai. During one such meeting, Dr Gangubai invited him to Hubballi. Patekar accepted immediately and attended her birthday celebration.
Hubballi : Veteran actor Nana Patekar , who died after suffering a cardiac arrest at his Goa residence on Thursday morning, shared a close emotional bond with legendary Hindustani vocalist Dr Gangubai Hangal.