KEY POINT
- Nana Patekar died at 75 after being found unresponsive at his Goa home early Thursday.
- His career spanned Hindi and Marathi cinema, theatre, directing and writing, with three National Film Awards.
- Tributes followed from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Akshay Kumar and Riteish Deshmukh.
Patekar, whose birth name was Vishwanath Patekar, was born Jan. 1, 1951, in Murud-Janjira. He later studied at Mumbai’s Sir J.J. Institute of Applied Art before beginning his professional career in theatre.
According to ANI, citing Dr. Shekhar Salkar of Manipal Hospital in Goa, Patekar was brought to the hospital after being discovered unresponsive at home during the early hours of Thursday.
Medical staff reportedly performed cardiac massage and continuous CPR for about 45 minutes to an hour, but he could not be revived. He was declared dead by approximately 5:30 a.m. local time.
Dr. Salkar said Patekar’s body was subsequently taken to Goa Medical College for a post-mortem examination. BBC Marathi separately reported that Patekar’s son, Malhar, confirmed the actor’s death.
Patekar made his film debut in the 1978 movie Gaman after gaining experience on stage under theatre director Vijaya Mehta. Early film appearances included smaller roles, among them Mira Nair’s Oscar-nominated Salaam Bombay!.
His major breakthrough came with Parinda in 1989, in which he portrayed the volatile gangster Anna.
The performance earned him the National Film Award for Best Supporting Actor as well as a Filmfare Award in the same category.
Patekar later expanded his work behind the camera. He directed and starred in Prahaar: The Final Attack in 1991, demonstrating that his career was not limited to acting.
His performance as Pratap Narayan Tilak in Krantiveer brought another major milestone. He won the National Film Award for Best Actor, alongside Filmfare and Screen Awards recognition.
Patekar became particularly associated with forceful, complicated characters, but his filmography extended well beyond that image. His credits included Angaar, Ab Tak Chhappan, Agni Sakshi, Khamoshi: The Musical and Rajneeti.
In Khamoshi, he delivered a markedly different performance as a character unable to hear or speak, while Rajneeti gave him the role of an astute politician. His career moved between Hindi and Marathi productions and included work as an actor, director and writer.
The actor also maintained a longstanding connection with theatre. Productions such as Purush and Hamidabai Chi Kothi became notable parts of his stage career, which began before he became widely recognised through films.
Patekar’s influence extended beyond acting. He was known for outspoken public comments on government policies and took a particular interest in issues affecting farmers.
In 2015, he and fellow actor Makarand Anaspure established the Naam Foundation, an organisation that worked on farmer welfare and water conservation in Maharashtra.
His career also included controversy. In 2018, actor Tanushree Dutta accused Patekar of sexual harassment related to an alleged incident during the making of Horn ‘Ok’ Pleassss in 2008. Patekar denied the allegations, and the supplied material states that Mumbai police later cleared him following an investigation.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute to Patekar on Thursday, describing his versatility and outspoken personality and saying his characters would remain remembered by generations.
Akshay Kumar, who worked with Patekar in Welcome and Housefull 5, remembered him as an unusually distinctive performer whose voice, intensity and honesty commanded attention.
Riteish Deshmukh also mourned the actor, describing Patekar as a performer whose distinctive style had secured a lasting place in the hearts of audiences.
ANI reported that Patekar’s body was taken to Goa Medical College for a post-mortem examination. The supplied reports do not provide further confirmed details about funeral arrangements.
