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A boy who went to work in Class 9
Nana Patekar passed away on 8 October 2026, at the age of 75. Most of us knew him as one of India’s finest actors. But long before any stage or camera, he was a Class 9 student walking to work to help his family survive.
That part of his life holds the most useful Nana Patekar career lessons for students. It says more about careers than any success story told from the top.
Rs 35 a month and one meal a day
When he was about 13 and in Class 9, his family was going through serious financial hardship. So he took up a job painting film posters in Mumbai. He was paid Rs 35 a month, along with one meal a day, and walked nearly eight kilometres to reach his workplace. He also took on odd jobs such as painting zebra crossings on roads.
What stands out is that he did not stop studying. He went on to the Bandra School of Art (now the L S Raheja School of Art) and later studied commercial art at the Sir J J Institute of Applied Art in Mumbai.
The skill he picked up out of necessity, painting, became the foundation for formal training. Everything else in his life grew from there: theatre, films, the honour of serving in the Territorial Army, and the Naam Foundation he co-founded to support farmers in drought-hit Maharashtra.
Five Nana Patekar career lessons for students
1. Your first job does not define you
A poster painter at 13 is not where anyone would expect a Padma Shri awardee to begin. His first job was a starting point, not a ceiling. Whatever your first step is, a part-time job, a diploma, a course that wasn’t your first choice, treat it as a launching pad. That is the first of the Nana Patekar career lessons worth remembering.
2. Hardship can pause your plans, but don’t let it end your education
He worked because he had to, yet he kept learning and went on to two art institutions. If money is tight at home, the answer is rarely to drop out. Look for scholarships, fee concessions, evening or distance courses, and teachers who can guide you.
3. A skill is worth building, even a small one
Painting posters taught him something he could earn with and later study formally. Every skill you build, drawing, writing, speaking, fixing things, coding, can open a door you can’t see yet.
4. Learning doesn’t end with a degree
At the 2016 convocation of NIT Agartala, he reportedly told graduates that finishing college is only the beginning. He urged them to keep learning, think independently, and stay creative. A certificate opens the door; curiosity keeps you moving.
5. Build a career with values, not just a CV
He asked graduates to act with integrity and give back to society, and he lived that through his work for farmers. Ask yourself not only “What will I earn?” but also “What kind of person do I want my work to make me?”
A note for parents and teachers
This story is not an argument for children to work instead of study. He worked because his family had no choice. The lesson is his resilience, and the fact that he never let go of learning.
Class 9 is often when students start asking, “What will I become?” It is also when family pressures quietly shape their choices. If a student is carrying financial worries, notice it early. A timely word about scholarships or a skill-based course can keep a child in education. Career guidance at this age is not about picking a job; it is about keeping doors open. Sharing Nana Patekar career lessons like these can start that conversation at home or in class.
Try this: a five-minute reflection
After reading these Nana Patekar career lessons, take a notebook and answer these honestly:
- What is one skill I already have, even a small one, that I could build on?
- If my plans were interrupted tomorrow, what would help me keep learning?
- Who is one adult I can talk to about my future?
- Beyond money, what do I want my work to give back?
In closing
The Nana Patekar career lessons above come down to one idea: a career is not decided by where you start. A boy earning Rs 35 a month kept learning, kept working, and kept giving back. That is a lesson worth passing on to every student.
Rest in peace, Nana Patekar.
More from my journey: Books, a Bulging Tummy and a Dream I Refused to Drop and I Went Looking for a Job. I Came Back With a Decision.