Nana Patekar dies at 75 after cardiac arrest in Goa, leaves four-decade legacy

MUMBAI: The curtain has fallen on one of Indian cinema’s most distinctive careers. Veteran actor and filmmaker Nana Patekar died at the age of 75 on Thursday after suffering a severe cardiac arrest at his residence in Dona Paula, Goa.

Patekar was found unconscious at his home and rushed to Manipal Hospital, where doctors attempted to revive him for around 45 minutes. He was declared dead at 5:20 am, according to reports citing Dr Shekhar Salkar of Manipal Hospital. A medico-legal case has been registered and a post-mortem examination is expected to be conducted.

Born Vishwanath Patekar on 1 January 1951 in Murud-Janjira, Maharashtra, Patekar built a career that stretched across Hindi and Marathi cinema, theatre and filmmaking. His performances were marked by a raw intensity, distinctive dialogue delivery and an ability to bring considerable emotional weight to both complex and ordinary characters.

Patekar came from a financially difficult background and studied at the Sir J. J. Institute of Applied Art in Mumbai. He initially earned money painting cinema posters and stage backdrops before developing his career in theatre.

His transition to films in the late 1970s gradually established him as an actor capable of handling demanding dramatic roles. Films such as Gaman and Govind Nihalani’s Ardh Satya brought him critical attention, while his performance in Mira Nair’s Salaam Bombay! further strengthened his reputation.

He reached another career high with Vidhu Vinod Chopra’s Parinda in 1989, in which he played the menacing Anna Seth. The performance earned him the National Film Award for Best Supporting Actor.

Patekar subsequently moved behind the camera with Prahaar: The Final Attack in 1991. The film reflected his interest in military life, with the actor undergoing rigorous commando-style training for the role and project.

His portrayal of an angry, principled common man in Krantiveer earned him the National Film Award for Best Actor in 1994. He won another National Film Award for Best Supporting Actor for Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Khamoshi: The Musical in 1996.

While intense dramas remained central to his filmography, Patekar also demonstrated his comic and commercial range in films including Ab Tak Chhappan, Apaharan, Welcome and Raajneeti.

Patekar’s association with the armed forces went beyond his screen roles.

His interest in military life, strengthened during the making of Prahaar, eventually led him to seek an opportunity to serve alongside soldiers. During the 1999 Kargil War, he spent time with troops in areas including Dras, Kupwara, Baramulla and Srinagar, where he participated in morale-boosting activities and experienced the conditions faced by personnel in conflict zones.

He was later awarded the honorary rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the Territorial Army in recognition of his association with the forces.

That connection became one of the defining aspects of Patekar’s public persona, alongside his work as an actor and filmmaker.

Patekar’s contribution to Indian cinema was recognised with three National Film Awards during his career. He was also awarded the Padma Shri by the Government of India in 2013.

Away from films, he was associated with philanthropic work, most notably through the Naam Foundation, which he established with actor Makarand Anaspure. The organisation has worked to support farmers and communities affected by drought in rural Maharashtra.

Patekar leaves behind a body of work that rarely relied on understatement. Whether playing a police officer, soldier, gangster, common man or comic character, he brought a distinctive force to the screen.

His death marks the end of a remarkable chapter in Indian cinema, leaving behind performances that made Nana Patekar not merely a familiar face, but one of the industry’s most unmistakable voices.