Actors often lead luxurious lives but achieving such success is no easy feat. Many work tirelessly to reach the pinnacle of stardom with some starting from scratch. Today we focus on a star who rose from modest beginnings and despite achieving immense fame has remained grounded and true to his simple roots. Vishwanath Patekar popularly known as Nana Patekar comes from a farming family in Murud-Janjira now part of Raigad Maharashtra. He entered Bollywood in 1978 with the film Gaman. Over the years Nana established himself as a formidable actor through memorable performances in movies like Salaam Bombay Parinda Krantiveer Prahaar: The Final Attack Raju Ban Gaya Gentleman Angaar Agni Sakshi and Khamoshi: The Musical (1996). Nana’s path to fame was far from smooth. Before entering the film industry he worked in a stone quarry at the age of 11. Even earlier he painted zebra crossings on roads to earn a living. Reflecting on his humble beginnings during an episode of Kaun Banega Crorepati 16 he shared “We used to paint zebra crossings and earned Rs 15 for it. The satisfaction came from not having to beg for money. I took up whatever work came my way. My pocket money was 25 paise and I managed to get through the entire day with that amount.” Despite his struggles Nana Patekar has built an impressive career. As of 2024 his estimated net worth is around Rs 80 crore. His primary sources of income include acting in films and advertisements. Interestingly Nana also engages in part-time farming. When he’s not working on movie sets he spends time at his farmhouse cultivating fruits grains and other crops. On the professional front Nana was last seen in Anil Sharma’s Vanvaas. His exceptional talent has earned him three National Awards: Best Supporting Actor for Parinda Best Actor for Krantiveer and Best Supporting Actor for Khamoshi: The Musical. Nana Patekar’s journey is a testament to hard work resilience and staying true to one’s roots.