Veteran Indian actor Nana Patekar, one of Hindi and Marathi cinema’s most intense and decorated performers, died on Thursday morning after suffering a cardiac arrest at his home in Goa. He was 75.
According to hospital sources cited by Indian media, Patekar was found unconscious at his residence in Dona Paula in the early hours of the morning and rushed to Manipal Hospital. Doctors tried to revive him for around 45 minutes, but he did not respond to treatment. He was declared dead at around 5:20 am.
Dr Shekhar Salkar, chief of the oncology department at Manipal Hospital, confirmed the actor’s death to news agency ANI. A medico-legal case has been registered and a post-mortem examination will be conducted.
FAKTA
- Who: Nana Patekar, veteran Indian film actor, director and Padma Shri recipient
- Age: 75
- Where: Dona Paula, Goa, India
- When: Thursday, October 8, 2026 — declared dead at around 5:20 am
- Cause: Cardiac arrest; a medico-legal case was registered and a post-mortem ordered
- Legacy: Three National Film Awards, Padma Shri (2013), a career spanning more than four decades in Hindi and Marathi cinema
Final hours in Goa
Patekar had complained of not feeling well in the early hours, according to the hospital’s account. After he was found unconscious, an ambulance reached the residence at around 4:20 am and the emergency team began resuscitation at once.
His son, Malhar Patekar, who was in Pune, left for Goa after the news broke. Patekar had remained publicly active until days before his death — he was last seen publicly four days earlier in Dona Paula, where he attended and addressed the Samraat Club International installation ceremony.
A career that defined intensity
Born Vishwanath Patekar, he began in theatre before making his Hindi film debut with Gaman in 1978. His breakthrough came with Parinda (1989), where his portrayal of the volatile crime lord Anna earned him the National Film Award for Best Supporting Actor.
He went on to win the National Film Award for Best Actor for Krantiveer and another Best Supporting Actor honour for Agni Sakshi. His acclaimed performances also include Angaar, Tirangaa, Khamoshi: The Musical, Ab Tak Chhappan, Apaharan, Raajneeti and the Welcome franchise, where he became beloved by a younger audience as the gangster Uday Shetty.
He made his directorial debut with Prahaar: The Final Attack, and his Marathi film Natsamrat (2016) earned him some of the finest reviews of his career. In recognition of his contribution to cinema and the arts, he was honoured with the Padma Shri in 2013.
Reaction
Tributes poured in from across the Indian film industry on Thursday, with colleagues recalling his distinctive voice, his discipline on set and his decades of mentoring younger actors. Maharashtra’s cultural affairs minister Ashish Shelar announced that Patekar would be accorded a state funeral with full state honours, in recognition of his contribution to Marathi theatre and to Hindi and Marathi cinema.
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