Nana Patekar felt Rajinikanth was 'too simple' for politics, warned him as well

Nana Patekar once felt Rajinikanth was “too simple” for politics and even warned his close friend about the risks of entering public life. Years later, following Patekar’s death at 75 on Thursday, his candid words about the superstar’s political ambitions offer a revealing throwback to their friendship.Rajinikanth announced his entry into politics on the last day of 2017, putting years of speculation to rest. But Patekar, who had known the superstar personally and had recently worked with him in Pa Ranjith’s Kaala, was not entirely convinced that politics was the right space for his friend.In a throwback interview with Mid-Day Patekar said he was happy that Rajinikanth had taken the bold decision but was concerned that his simplicity and honesty could work against him in politics. "There are a lot of things that politicians can't do. They don't have the right to question anybody. Gaali dene ka haq gawaan dete hain [when they enter politics]," he joked.Patekar said he had personally cautioned Rajinikanth that entering politics would also mean giving people the right to question him in a way they hadn't before. "He needs to think about his decision seriously. I told him, 'The people who love and worship you today may question you once you join politics, because you are giving them that right.' If political promises aren't fulfilled, the resulting agitation can affect his films as well," he added.‘He is too simple; that’s why I fear’Patekar, who had himself been involved in social work and activism through Naam Foundation, said he had no interest in following Rajinikanth into politics. He believed the nature of the political arena demanded qualities that neither he nor the superstar possessed. "I told him that he is not politician [material]. Merely staying good and honest is not enough. He is too simple; that's why I fear [for him]. Politicians need to be manipulative, which we [Rajini and Patekar] are not capable of being."Patekar was also concerned that an actor's immense popularity could become a liability once they entered politics. According to him, the public's affection for an actor is tied to their work, while the actions of a political party can create an entirely different kind of accountability."Artistes should not form political parties or enter politics because the masses love them for the work they do on screen. If I join politics, and the people in my party err, I will be blamed for it. It isn't possible that everyone on the team be righteous. If an actor wants to join politics, s/he should stop acting. You can't mix the two," he explained.Patekar and Rajinikanth shared the screen in Pa Ranjith's 2018 Tamil film, Kaala, with Patekar playing the antagonist Hari Dada.- Ends