Nana Patekar dies at 75, was found unresponsive at Goa flat

Veteran actor Nana Patekar died at a private hospital in Goa on Thursday morning after he was found unresponsive at his home. He was 75 years old.

In Short

• Veteran actor was rushed to Manipal Hospital where he was declared dead
• He reportedly complained of chest pain; post-mortem to be conducted today
• Patekar to be cremated with state honours at his farmhouse in Pune

Veteran actor Nana Patekar died at the age of 75 on Thursday, October 8. He was found unresponsive at his flat in Goa after experiencing severe chest pain. He was declared dead by the medical team at Manipal Hospital at 5:20 am.

According to information shared by his son, Malhar Patekar, a medical team was sent to the actor’s flat after he complained of severe chest pain. He was found unresponsive when the team arrived, and attempts were made to revive him. He was subsequently taken to Manipal Hospital, where doctors continued efforts to save him for around 45 minutes. However, he could not be revived.

Since Nana was not a registered patient at the hospital, the medical team, as per procedure, informed the police about his death. A post-mortem examination will be conducted before his body is handed over to the family. His body has been taken to Goa Medical College for the post-mortem.

Nana Patekar will be cremated at his farmhouse in Pune tonight, as per his last wishes. Maharashtra Cultural Affairs Minister Ashish Shelar has announced that the government, led by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, will accord the veteran actor a state funeral with full state honours, in recognition of his contribution to Marathi theatre and Marathi and Hindi cinema.

Nana Patekar's final hours

Dr Shekhar Salkar, Chief of the Department of Oncology at Manipal Hospital, in a press briefing detailed what happened in the final hours. He said that Nana Patekar was brought to the hospital in an unresponsive state and could not be revived despite prolonged efforts.

“Nana Patekar was brought dead to the hospital. He came in around 4 or 4:30 am and was declared dead by around 5:30 am. We tried our best to save him, but he was brought dead. Cardiac massage was given for almost 45 minutes to an hour, but he just could not be saved.

He explained saying, “As far as we can recollect, he called someone at around 2:30 am. He sent a message to his friend saying that he was not feeling well. Since it was nighttime, his friend could not see the message, so he called him. He went to Nana's house at around 4 am."

“By then, Nana was sweating and gradually becoming unconscious. They did the primary things and then sent his caretaker, as they stayed near our hospital. The caretaker came to the hospital and took our ambulance. Our emergency team went there and started cardiac massage because he was totally unresponsive," he added.

Nana Patekar's final appearance

The veteran actor's last appearance was at the Samraat Club International installation ceremony in Goa's Dona Paula on October 4, four days before his death. At the gathering, he spoke about one's responsibilities and death, while expressing his admiration for former Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parikkar.

Speaking at the event, he said, "Pramod Sawant is the Chief Minister of Goa. During your father's time, Manohar Parrikar was my friend. I was proud to call him my friend. He was younger than me, but his stature was such that you had to look up to him. It is unfortunate, but we were lucky that such a person was born among us and that he chose to do what he did. He had taken up a mission. There are so many people who dedicate themselves to a cause. How great is it that, within such a short life, someone can accomplish so much?"

He added, “We all have to go someday. I don't know whether I will be here tomorrow or not. Every person's life will eventually reach that point. But before that happens, I have to ask myself: am I able to do what I want to do?”

Nana Patekar's legacy

Patekar studied at the Sir J.J. School of Art in Mumbai before entering the world of theatre and cinema. He made his Hindi film debut with Gaman in 1978. His early filmography included a mix of Hindi and Marathi films, with projects such as Aaj Ki Awaaz, Pratighaat, Mohre and Trishagni gradually establishing him as a performer capable of taking on challenging roles.

His career gained considerable momentum with Ankush (1986), but it was Vidhu Vinod Chopra's Parinda (1989) that became a major turning point. Patekar played the volatile gangster Anna and won the National Film Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance. He also received the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor.

Krantiveer, Agni Sakshi and a string of acclaimed performances

The 1990s cemented Patekar's reputation as one of Hindi cinema's most formidable actors.

He won the Filmfare Award for Best Villain for Angaar (1992), followed by another major success with Tirangaa (1993). His performance in Krantiveer (1994), in which he played the fiery Pratap Narayan Tilak, earned him the National Film Award for Best Actor as well as the Filmfare Award for Best Actor.

He followed it with Agni Sakshi (1996), for which he won his third National Film Award, this time for Best Supporting Actor. The same period also saw him appear in films such as Khamoshi: The Musical, further demonstrating that his intensity could work just as effectively in emotionally driven dramas.

Patekar's filmography during this period was notable for its variety. He played the roles of a terrifying antagonist, a morally complicated protagonist or a deeply vulnerable character without losing the distinctive screen presence that audiences associated with him.

From Ab Tak Chhappan to Welcome

Patekar remained an important presence in Hindi cinema through the 2000s. In Ab Tak Chhappan (2004), he played Sadhu Agashe, a tough Mumbai police officer caught between his professional duties and personal life. The role became one of his most acclaimed performances of the decade.

He was equally effective as the morally complex politician in Apaharan (2005), winning another Filmfare Award for Best Villain.

But Patekar also demonstrated that his intensity could translate into comedy. His portrayal of gangster Uday Shetty in Welcome (2007) introduced him to a much wider mainstream audience in a completely different avatar. He reprised the role in Welcome Back (2015). His performance in Raajneeti (2010), meanwhile, saw him return to the political drama space.

Natsamrat and Marathi cinema

While Patekar became a major Hindi film star, Marathi cinema remained an important part of his career.

One of his most celebrated later performances came in the Marathi film Natsamrat (2016), in which he played a retired theatre actor dealing with ageing, family and loss. The performance earned him the Filmfare Award for Best Actor (Marathi).

His work across Hindi and Marathi cinema allowed him to move between commercial films and more performance-driven projects throughout his career.

Nana Patekar's work in Tamil cinema

Patekar also ventured into Tamil cinema. He appeared in Bharathiraja's Bommalattam and later played an important role in Rajinikanth's Kaala (2018).

In Kaala, he played Harinath Desai, the political antagonist who comes into conflict with Rajinikanth's titular character. The film marked one of his notable appearances in South Indian cinema.

His directorial debut and work outside acting

Patekar was not only an actor. He made his directorial debut with Prahaar: The Final Attack, a 1991 film in which he also played the lead. The film was inspired by the lives and training of soldiers and reflected his longstanding interest in military life.

He was also involved in social work. In 2015, he and fellow Marathi actor Makarand Anaspure established the Naam Foundation, which works on issues affecting farmers, particularly drought-hit communities in Maharashtra.

Patekar was also associated with the Territorial Army and was conferred the honorary rank of Lieutenant Colonel.

Patekar continued working well into his seventies. His recent filmography included Vanvaas (2024), Housefull 5 (2025), O' Romeo and Subedaar in 2026.

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