Actor Nana Patekar, who played police roles in several movies during his celebrated career, developed friendly relations with several officers from retired top cop Rakesh Maria to Daya Nayak, referred to as “encounter specialist” — a monicker he contests.Patekar played Mumbai Police joint commissioner of police (crime) Maria,, who led the 26/11 terror attack case and questioned Ajmal Kasab — the lone Pakistani terrorist held alive and eventually hanged to death after conviction.Speaking to The Indian Express, Maria, who is currently in the US, said, “I spoke to him on September 23 before leaving for the US and he took a promise from me to visit his farmhouse in Pune. He said he would cook chicken for the both of us… It is so unfortunate that it turned out to be the last time I spoke to him.”Also Read | Nana Patekar laid to rest with full state honours at Pune farmhouseSpeaking about Nana playing his character, Maria said, “Nana told me he had accepted a role for playing me in an upcoming movie when he faced a problem.”He added, “He told me that as per ascene, Maria gets angry at Kasab and abuses him. Nana said he knew me and got my mannerisms but could not imagine me abusing someone. So he wanted to speak to me on handling the scene. I told him he was a great actor and I dare not tell him how to do his job.”Incidentally, filmmaker Ram Gopal Verma Thursday tweeted a scene from his movie where Patekar playing Maria takes Kasab to the morgue where bodies of other terrorists in 26/11 attacks are kept, calling it “the best scene of Nana Patekar”.Maria, who first met the actor much before in 1987 when he was a DCP during patrolling during Ganesh Visarjan, said the actor invited him home and they remained friends ever since, speaking to each other every few weeks.Story continues below this ad“He played cops so well as he was a son-of-the-soil and honest to the core in his approach. There will never be anyone person like him in the industry,” Maria said.Also Read | A voice for farmers, a mentor to many, Nana Patekar leaves a remarkable legacyFor Daya Nayak, the popular Mumbai cop who was the inspiration behind inspector Sadhu Agashe of the 2004 film Ab Tak Chappan, meeting Nana Patekar was a lifelong dream.While working as a waiter in Versova, Nayak had seen the actor shoot for the film Ankush and wished he would walk upto him. Things turned and a few years later and the actor who turned a friend was speaking to him regarding the role of Agashe.ALSO READ: Hours before death, Nana Patekar messaged friend at 2:30 am he was unwellStory continues below this ad“Nana became a friend and during the toughest times he would call and give moral support. It is a major loss,” Nayak said.Also Read | Nana Patekar was friends with politicians but remained outspoken till endAccording to sources, several scenes Ab Tak Chappan, including the ones where a gangster keeps calling Agashe as he goes about his everyday business, was based on some real life events where Chhota Shakeel kept calling up police officers.In a social media post on X on Thursday, Nayak praised Nana Patekar’s versatility as an actor and recalled his portrayal in Ab Tak Chhappan. “Such a wonderfully versatile actor and the extraordinary way you inhabited every character you played. You inspired me while playing a character inspired by me… you didn’t simply portray a police officer — you made people understand the person behind the uniform, the pressures, the humanity and what it truly means to be a police officer. And you did it with such honesty and depth.”Mohamed Thaver is a highly specialized journalist with the Expertise and Authority required to report on complex law enforcement and legal issues. With a career dedicated to the crime beat for over a decade, his work provides readers with informed and trustworthy insights into Maharashtra's security and justice systems. Experience & Authority Core Focus: Has been exclusively covering the crime beat for over a decade, building deep, specialized knowledge in the field. Geographical Authority: Currently focuses heavily on law enforcement and policy in Maharashtra, providing authoritative coverage of the state's security apparatus. Key Beats: Law Enforcement: Reports on the operations of the Maharashtra Police and the Mumbai Crime Branch. Policy & Administration: Covers the Maharashtra Home Department, focusing on policy matters related to handling law and order and the evolution of the police force. Judiciary: Has significant past experience covering the courts, giving him a comprehensive understanding of the entire criminal justice process from investigation to verdict. Specialized Interest (Cyber & Forensics): Demonstrates Expertise in modern investigative techniques, with a keen focus on cyber crime and forensics, reporting on how these technologies assist complex crime investigations. Content Focus: His reports revolve around police probes, the evolution of the force, and state policy, ensuring his content is highly relevant and detailed. Credentials & Trustworthiness Mohamed Thaver’s long-standing specialization in the crime beat—combined with his focus on technological aspects like cyber crime and his direct coverage of major institutions like the Mumbai Crime Branch and the Maharashtra Home Department—underscores his Trustworthiness and status as an expert source for detailed and reliable journalism on law and order. He tweets @thaver_mohamed ... 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