Kashmir Impulse Desk
Panaji, Oct 08
Veteran actor Nana Patekar, known for his intense performances in Hindi and Marathi cinema, died at his residence in Goa early on Thursday. He was 76.
A heart attack is suspected to have caused his death, according to sources.
Patekar was found unconscious at his apartment in Dona Paula, near Panaji, and taken to a private hospital, said Dr Shekhar Salkar, a senior doctor at the facility.
Doctors administered cardiopulmonary resuscitation for about 45 minutes but could not revive him. He was declared dead at 5:10 am, Salkar said.
A medico-legal case has been registered, and a postmortem examination will be conducted to establish the cause of death. His body was taken to Goa Medical College and Hospital in Bambolim.
According to information provided by a friend to hospital doctors, Patekar had sent a message around 3:30 am saying he was unwell. The friend saw the message at about 4 am and went to the actor’s apartment, where he was living with a caretaker.
The caretaker took Patekar to the private hospital, which dispatched an ambulance to the residence. Treatment began during the ambulance journey, Salkar said.
Patekar’s death prompted tributes from political leaders and actors, who praised his distinctive screen presence and contribution to Indian cinema.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Patekar brought versatility and creativity to his roles and created characters that would be remembered for generations.
“His passing leaves a deep void,” Modi said in a post on X, extending condolences to the actor’s family, friends and admirers.
Actor Akshay Kumar, who worked with Patekar in the comedy film Welcome and later in Housefull 5, said he was saddened by the news.
Kumar described Patekar as an actor whose voice, intensity and honesty made him stand out, adding that he would cherish their memories together.
Actor R. Madhavan recalled being deeply moved by Patekar’s performance in the 1991 film Prahaar: The Final Attack. Patekar had trained with the Army for two years for his directorial debut.
Actor Kangana Ranaut also expressed shock, saying Patekar had appeared fit and healthy.
A career defined by intensity
Born Vishwanath Patekar into a Marathi family in Murud-Janjira in Maharashtra’s Raigad district, he became one of the most recognisable performers in Hindi and Marathi cinema.
His notable films included Parinda, Prahaar, Tirangaa, Krantiveer, Khamoshi: The Musical, Salaam Bombay! and Welcome.
He received three National Film Awards, several Filmfare Awards, the Maharashtra State Film Award and Filmfare Awards Marathi. He was also awarded the Padma Shri, India’s fourth-highest civilian honour.
In 2018, actor Tanushree Dutta accused Patekar of sexual harassment on a film set, an allegation that helped bring renewed attention to India’s #MeToo movement. An FIR was registered, and Patekar denied the allegations. The case was later closed due to insufficient evidence.
Patekar is survived by his wife and son, Malhar.
