Veteran actor Nana Patekar, one of the most distinctive performers in Hindi and Marathi cinema, died on Thursday at the age of 75 after suffering a cardiac arrest at his residence.
Dr Shekhar Salkar, Chief of the Department of Oncology at Manipal Hospital, told ANI that Patekar suffered the cardiac arrest at his residence and that doctors administered CPR for 45 minutes. The actor remained in asystole throughout the CPR, Salkar said. A medico-legal case has been completed and a post-mortem examination is required.
The news prompted tributes from across the film industry and beyond, with actors and public figures remembering Patekar for his distinctive voice, intensity and ability to make even a few lines of dialogue memorable.
Former India cricketer Shikhar Dhawan described Patekar as a “truly special talent” whose work would continue to inspire generations.
“Indian cinema has lost a truly special talent today. Nana Patekar saab, your work will continue to inspire generations. Om Shanti,” Dhawan said in a post on X.
Actor Riteish Deshmukh, who worked with Patekar in Bluffmaster! and Housefull 5, said he was “shocked beyond words” by the news and remembered Patekar as an actor who could take on every kind of role.
“He aced it all — a larger-than-life hero, a terrifying villain or be it his poker-faced comedy,” Deshmukh said, adding that Patekar was also a “hero off screen” for his work through charity.
Akshay Kumar, who co-starred with Patekar in Welcome and Housefull 5, remembered his distinctive voice and intensity.
“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,” Kumar said.
Actor Adil Hussain also mourned Patekar's death, saying his work had inspired many people, including himself.
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari described Patekar's death as “shocking and heartbreaking” and recalled his close and friendly relationship with the actor. Gadkari said Patekar had remained in the hearts of audiences for more than five decades through his work in Marathi and Hindi cinema.
“Through his powerful acting, Nana Patekar dominated the hearts of discerning audiences for over five decades via Marathi and Hindi cinema,” Gadkari said, praising his distinctive dialogue delivery and powerful performances.
Born Vishwanath Patekar in Murud-Janjira in Maharashtra's Raigad district, Patekar studied at Sir J.J. Institute of Applied Art in Mumbai before entering acting. He made his acting debut with the 1978 film Gaman and went on to build a career across Hindi and Marathi cinema.
His performances in films including Parinda, Prahaar, Angaar, Krantiveer, Tiranga, Khamoshi, Ab Tak Chhappan, Agni Sakshi, Apaharan and Welcome established him as an actor capable of moving between intense dramatic roles, villains, police characters and comedy.
Patekar won three National Film Awards and four Filmfare Awards, along with Maharashtra State Film Awards and other honours. In 2013, he was awarded the Padma Shri for his contribution to cinema and the arts.
For many viewers, his performance as Uday Shetty in Welcome introduced a different side of the actor, with the character becoming one of the most remembered comic roles of his later career.
Patekar's work extended beyond acting. He directed Prahaar: The Final Attack and was involved in writing and filmmaking. He was also associated with social causes and efforts supporting farmers and people facing difficult circumstances in rural Maharashtra.
His career was marked by a distinctive screen presence built not on conventional glamour but on voice, expressions, body language, silences and intensity. Whether playing a volatile protagonist, a menacing villain, a police officer or a comic character, Patekar brought a recognisable personality to his performances.
His death marks the end of a career that stretched across generations and genres. From Parinda and Krantiveer to Ab Tak Chhappan and Welcome, Patekar created characters that remained memorable long after the films ended.
Indian cinema has lost an actor whose voice, temperament and screen presence were difficult to replicate.
(With agency inputs from ANI)
