Nana Patekar worked from Class 9: What students can learn from his unusual journey

Nana Patekar’s career did not follow the usual path from education to a first job. He started working when he was around 13 and still in Class 9, after his family faced severe financial difficulties.He painted film posters in Mumbai for Rs 35 a month and walked nearly eight kilometres to work. The job also provided one meal a day.For students, his journey offers lessons that go beyond choosing a career.EDUCATION CAN HAPPEN OUTSIDE CLASSROOMSPatekar continued studying despite working from a young age. He later studied at the Bandra School of Arts, now the LS Raheja School of Art, and went on to study commercial art at the Sir J J Institute of Applied Art. His early work also exposed him to responsibility and hardship. For students, his journey shows that learning can come from formal education as well as real-life experiences.YOUR FIRST JOB DOES NOT DEFINE YOUHis first job was painting film posters, but his career later moved through commercial art, theatre and cinema. He made his film debut with Gaman in 1978 and went on to become a National Award-winning actor. His journey shows that an early job can be a starting point, not a final destination.KEEP LEARNING AFTER A DEGREEAt NIT Agartala’s 2016 convocation, Patekar told graduates: “You have completed your formal education by obtaining this degree but this is just the beginning.” He urged them to keep learning, think independently and use creativity to solve problems.BUILD A CAREER, NOT JUST A CVPatekar moved between art, theatre, acting and film-making instead of staying within one professional path. His career was built through different skills and experiences.SUCCESS SHOULD COME WITH RESPONSIBILITYPatekar also told graduates to choose careers responsibly, maintain integrity and give back to society. For students, his message was clear: education creates an opportunity, but what comes next depends on how that opportunity is used.His own unconventional journey, from a Class 9 student painting posters for Rs 35 to an acclaimed actor, makes that message particularly relevant.- Ends