There has long been some discourse around whether an artist's personal self and their work should be viewed separately or inseparably. The debate intensified with the demise of actor Nana Patekar. Following his death, actor Tanushree Dutta said that one's passing should not absolve him of his sins and that for her, he would remain an ‘evil’ man. While many criticised Tanushree for her comments, calling these untimely and deliberately being made seeking attention, several prominent members in the Indian film industry also supported her.

One of the claims that Tanushree made in her recent comments is that she is not the only one to find discomfort in working with Nana Patekar. In this context, it is worth looking back at Dimple Kapadia's candid revelations about her co-star in an old interview. Speaking on the show Picture This on NDTV, Dimple was asked about her experience working with Nana for the 2010 film Tum Milo Toh Sahi. 

Dimple shared that nobody except for Nana Patekar could have done the role opposite to her in the film and that he was “slated for it”. When asked about her experience collaborating with him, however, she said, “I think he is obnoxious.” When probed further, Dimple showed some reluctance to speak more but eventually added that she found him obnoxious “in a good way and a bad way.”

She added, “As far as his talent goes, there is no match to him. He is an extremely talented man.” The actor also said that when she would work with such talented co-artists, she tended to forgive everything coming from them. “I would not mind if they even took my life,” she revealed in a hyperbolic way about working with such complex co-actors.

Additionally, Dimple shared that while she experienced nothing but kindness and niceness from her “good friend” Nana Patekar, she had also seen the latter's “terrible and dark” aspects. “We all have a dark side which is nicely and safely kept aside,” Dimple added.