Veteran actor Nana Patekar passed away on Thursday at the age of 75 after suffering a severe cardiac arrest at his residence in Goa. He was declared dead at around 5:20 AM after doctors attempted CPR for nearly 45 minutes. Dr Shekhar Salkar of Manipal Hospital confirmed the death, while a medico-legal case has been registered and a post-mortem will be conducted.
Born Vishwanath Patekar, Nana Patekar was one of Indian cinema’s most distinctive performers, with a career spanning nearly five decades across Hindi and Marathi films. He began his journey in theatre before making his film debut with Gaman in 1978. His intense screen presence, powerful dialogue delivery and ability to bring complexity to his characters soon made him one of the most respected actors of his generation.
His breakthrough came with Parinda, for which he won the National Film Award for Best Supporting Actor. He later delivered acclaimed performances in Angaar, Tirangaa, Krantiveer, Agni Sakshi, Khamoshi: The Musical, Apaharan and Raajneeti. Krantiveer earned him the National Film Award for Best Actor, while Agni Sakshi brought another National Film Award for Best Supporting Actor.
Patekar also proved his versatility in commercial cinema, winning over a wider audience with films such as Welcome and Welcome Back. His Marathi work was equally significant, particularly Natsamrat, which earned him the Filmfare Marathi Best Actor award. He also directed Prahaar: The Final Attack, adding filmmaker and writer to his body of work.
His contribution to Indian cinema was recognised with three National Film Awards and the Padma Shri in 2013. But beyond the awards and memorable characters, Patekar’s greatest legacy lies in the way he made audiences feel every emotion his characters carried. Whether playing a troubled man, a fierce protagonist, a villain or a comic character, he brought an unmistakable honesty to the screen. His voice, intensity and performances will remain part of the memories of generations of moviegoers. Indian cinema has lost a truly singular performer, but the characters Nana Patekar gave us will continue to live on long after the lights fade.