Panaji, Oct 8: Veteran actor Nana Patekar, known for his versatility and powerful screen presence across films such as “Salaam Bombay!”, “Khamoshi” and “Welcome”, passed away at his Goa residence in the early hours of Thursday. He was 76.
Patekar is suspected to have suffered a heart attack, according to sources.
The actor was brought to a private hospital after he was found unconscious at his apartment in Dona Paula, near Panaji, Dr. Shekhar Salkar, a senior doctor at the medical facility said.
Despite being administered CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) for 45 minutes, Patekar could not be revived and was declared dead at 5:10 am, he said.
A medico-legal case has been registered in this connection, and a postmortem would be conducted, he said.
As per information provided by a friend of Patekar to the hospital doctors, the actor had messaged him around 3:30 am that he was not feeling well.
“The friend saw the message around 4 am and rushed to the apartment of Patekar, who was living with a caretaker,” Salkar said. The caretaker rushed to the private hospital, from where an ambulance was sent to his house. “The treatment started in the ambulance itself,” Salkar said. Patekar’s residence is about 5 minutes away from the hospital. The doctors tried to revive him after being brought to the hospital, but he was declared dead at 5:10 am.
The body has been sent to Goa Medical College and Hospital, Bambolim, where the postmortem would be conducted to ascertain the exact cause of death, Salkar said. The actor’s sudden death has shocked his fans and industry colleagues as he seemed to be in good health as he attended an event here. Condoling Patekar’s death Prime Minister NarendraModi said the actor leaves a deep void.
“Few actors possessed the intensity, individuality and unmistakable presence that Shri Nana PatekarJi had. He brought remarkable versatility and creativity to every role and gave us characters that will be remembered for generations. He was also admired for his frank and forthright views, never hesitating to express what he believed in,” the PM said in a post on X.
“Shri Nana Patekar’s contribution to Hindi and Marathi cinema was immense. His passing leaves a deep void. My condolences to his family, friends and countless admirers. Om Shanti,” he said.
Actor Akshay Kumar, who worked with Patekar on blockbuster comedy “Welcome”, said he has so many memories from their time together on the set that he will hold dear.
“Really saddened by the news of Nana ji’s passing. He was one of those rare actors who never needed to do too much to make you sit up and watch. That voice, that intensity, that honesty in every performance… he was completely his own,” Akshay wrote in a post on X.
“Nana ji was truly one of a kind. It’s hard to believe you’re gone. Thank you for all the memories. You will be missed more than words can say,” said the actor, who last collaborated with Patekar for 2025’s “Housefull 5”.
Actor R Madhavan said he was deeply moved and inspired by his performance in the 1991 critically-acclaimed movie film “Prahaar: The Final Attack”. Patekar trained with the Army for two years for his directorial debut.
“A legend moves on. Thank you for the unforgettable moments in the Theatres, and the invaluable lessons to actors. I still remember exactly how moved and inspired I felt after watching ‘Prahaar’. There will be none other like you, sir. RIP.”
KanganaRanaut said the news was particularly shocking because Patekar appeared to be in good health.
“Such a terrible and tragic news especially because Nana ji looked so fit and healthy. OM Shanti,” she wrote.
Known for his intensity and distinct style of dialogue delivery, Patekar graduated from small roles to become one of the most versatile leading men of his era.
He was born as VishwanathPatekar into a Marathi family in Murud-Janjira in Raigad district. The actor often credited his father for encouraging his talent as a performer.
Patekar was known for his roles in several Hindi and Marathi films.
His notable Hindi movies include “Parinda”, “Prahaar: The Final Act”, “Tirangaa”, “Krantiveer” and “Khamoshi: The Musical”.
Patekar was a recipient of three National Film Awards, several Filmfare Awards, the Maharashtra State Film Award and Filmfare Awards Marathi.
He had also received Padma Shri, the country’s fourth-highest civilian honour.
In 2018, Patekar was accused of sexual harassment by actor Tanushree Dutta on a movie set and the allegation led to the start of India’s MeToo movement. An FIR was registered against the actor, who consistently denied the allegations. The case was later closed due to insufficient evidence.
Patekar is survived by his wife and son Malhar.
Nana Patekar dedicated life to poor, marginalised: Farooq Abdullah
Former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir Farooq Abdullah on Thursday expressed deep grief over the death of actor Nana Patekar, describing him as a noble human being who “never looked at religion” and dedicated his life to helping the poor and marginalised.
Recalling his close bond with the late actor, who made an indelible mark in Indian cinema with iconic hits such as ‘Krantiveer’ and ‘Parinda’, Abdullah described Patekar as a “people’s favourite” whose compassion knew no bounds.
“He was a very good friend of mine and a very noble person. Throughout his life, he helped the poor. He himself used to stay in tribal villages, especially in areas where the most deprived people live, to help ease their difficulties,” Abdullah, who is also president of the National Conference, said.
Recalling his personal interactions with the veteran actor, he remembered taking Patekar on a visit to remote regions of the Kashmir Valley.
“I met him when he came once, and I took him from Kupwara. General Pathankar was the commander there at that time, from there, I took him in a helicopter to Gurez, Mushkoh Valley and showed him around,” Abdullah said.
The former union minister also fondly remembered a lighter moment shared with the actor during a social occasion in Srinagar.
“We would often meet when he would visit Kashmir. Once, he even attended a wedding here, and I got a chance to dance with him,” Abdullah said with a smile appearing on his face.
“And by the grace of Allah, he had one tremendous quality, gentleness, and along with gentleness, he could recognise people’s hardships. Today, because it was God’s will that he must now return, I heard the very sad news of his passing this morning. He had just done his last shooting for his last film in Goa,” he said.
Expressing condolences on behalf of himself and the people of Jammu and Kashmir, Abdullah highlighted Patekar’s selfless nature.
“And as I told you, he had gentleness in him. He never looked at religion, he looked at what a person’s sorrows are, what his pain is, and tried to remove that pain as much as he could,” he said.
However, with sadness visible on his face, the veteran politician said that the cycle of death is certain and every human being has to return to the creator.
“But then everyone’s time comes, and he did as much as he could, and no one can forget it,” he said.
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