Did Nana Patekar slap a fan on Journey film set? Director Anil Sharma clarifies

Anil Sharma with Nana Patekar. Pic/Instagram, X

Nana Patekar, who is in Banaras for the shoot of his upcoming film, titled Journey, landed in controversy for allegedly slapping a person who appeared to be a fan trying to take a selfie with him. The actor, who is rather calm and polite with his fans and the media, seemed to be angry. Hours after the news went viral, the director of Journey, Anil Sharma, reacted to the viral video and clarified that Nana didn't slap a fan.

Anil revealed in a statement to Aaj Tak that Nana was shooting for Journey and the slap was a part of the shot he was delivering when the video was recorded. The director said, "I have just come to know about this news. I was watching the same video just now. Nana has not hit anyone, rather that is a shot from my film. We were filming it on the road in the middle of Banaras, where a boy who comes near Nana has to be hit on the head. Shooting was going on and Nana also hit him."

He added, "But the crowd gathered there recorded it on their mobile cameras and then leaked the shot of the film. Now, Nana is being projected as a negative and rude actor on social media, which is completely wrong. I would request that the fans understand the truth of this video. This is a shot from the film. Nana has not hit anyone."

In the viral video, Nana was dressed in a brown coat and hat. It seemed to be a busy street. Reportedly, it was near Dashashwamedh Ghat in Varanasi. The video created a perception that the fan interrupted the shoot just to take a selfie and that too without Nana's consent.

Anil announced Journey with Nana Patekar on November 7. Sharing a picture with the veteran actor, the director wrote, "After gadar2 new journey begins with the blessings of Kashi Vishwanath #journey " a journey from pilgrimage to home." Journey also stars Anil's son, Utkarsh Sharma, who played the role of Jeetey in the blockbuster franchise, Gadar.

Journey is Anil's latest directorial after Sunny Deol and Ameesha Patel's Gadar 2.