Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar is a friend and I am proud of it, actor Nana Patekar said on Friday, and rejected media reports that actor - backed rebel RSS leader Subhash Velingkar is in a public spat with Parrikar.
Speaking on the sidelines of the 47th International Film Festival of India here, Patekar said: "Manohar was a friend, even when he was a nobody.
He is still my friend and will be a friend tomorrow.
"If he does not like my film, he can say Nana I did not like it.
If I do not like his political decisions, I will tell him that in private, not in public.
"It should not be done.
Manohar is a close friend and I am proud of it.
Very few people in politics are such, who are your friends and you can be proud of them, " the actor said.
Patekar also said that he did not back Velingkar, who has been critical of Parrikar, a former Goa Chief Minister, and the state government's decision to overtly back English as the language of instruction in the state's primary schools.
Velingkar's attack on the state BJP has resulted in his sacking as the RSS state head for the Goa unit.
"I have not supported Velingkar Sir. . .
I called him and told him these are your internal issues, so why discuss it in public?
Solve them internally.
That is all I told him, " Patekar said, adding that he is not interested in politics.