Veteran Indian actor Nana Patekar died in Goa on Thursday, October 8, at the age of 75, bringing to an end a career that stretched across Hindi and Marathi cinema, theatre and filmmaking.
Patekar was found unresponsive at his residence in Dona Paula, Goa, after experiencing severe chest pain, according to reports citing information from his family. He was taken to Manipal Hospital, where doctors attempted to revive him. He was declared dead at about 5:20am.
Dr Shekhar Salkar of Manipal Hospital said that doctors carried out continuous CPR for about 45 minutes but were unable to revive the actor. A medico-legal case has been registered and a post-mortem examination is expected to establish the exact cause of death. The cardiac arrest reported in connection with his death should therefore be distinguished from the final medical findings.
Patekar’s son, Malhar Patekar, confirmed the death, according to reports. He was travelling from Pune to Goa following the news of his father’s death.
A career built on intensity and range
Born Vishwanath Patekar, Nana Patekar began his film career with Gaman in 1978 after establishing himself in theatre. Over the following decades, he developed a reputation for performances that relied heavily on controlled intensity, distinctive dialogue delivery and an ability to move between serious and comic roles.
His filmography included Parinda, Prahaar, Krantiveer, Agni Sakshi, Khamoshi: The Musical, Ab Tak Chhappan, Apaharan, Rajneeti and Natsamrat.
He also became widely popular with a younger and broader mainstream audience through his performance as Uday Shetty in Welcome. The comic role demonstrated another side of an actor more commonly associated with dramatic and hard-edged characters.
His work earned him three National Film Awards. He won Best Supporting Actor for Parinda, Best Actor for Krantiveer and another Best Supporting Actor award for Agni Sakshi.
Patekar was also a filmmaker. His directorial work included Prahaar: The Final Attack, while his career continued across Marathi and Hindi productions in later years.
The Government of India honoured him with the Padma Shri in 2013 for his contribution to the arts. The official Padma Awards record lists Vishwanath Dinkar Patekar, known as Nana Patekar, among the 2013 Padma Shri recipients in the arts category.
Tributes follow news of his death
Tributes began emerging from colleagues, politicians and other public figures after news of Patekar’s death spread.
Actor Riteish Deshmukh, who worked with Patekar in Bluffmaster and Housefull 5, paid tribute to him on social media. Filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma and other members of the film industry also expressed shock at the actor’s death.
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari remembered Patekar not only for his acting but also for his social work. Patekar had been associated with Naam Foundation, an organisation involved in rural water conservation and support initiatives in Maharashtra.
Political leaders, including Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, also expressed condolences following his death.
A legacy beyond Bollywood
Patekar’s appeal was not limited to conventional Hindi film stardom. His work in Marathi cinema, particularly Natsamrat, reinforced his standing as an actor capable of carrying demanding dramatic roles.
At the same time, films such as Welcome showed his ability to use timing and understated comic performance to reach a mass audience.
His career therefore crossed several parts of India’s entertainment industry — from theatre and serious cinema to mainstream comedy and Marathi-language productions.
For audiences in the UAE, where Indian cinema has a large and diverse following, his work is likely to be remembered across generations. His films reached viewers well beyond the traditional Hindi-film audience, while titles such as Welcome remain particularly familiar to mainstream Bollywood audiences.
Patekar’s death leaves questions around the final medical findings still to be resolved through the post-mortem process. What is already clear is the scale of his contribution: five decades of work across acting, theatre and filmmaking, backed by three National Film Awards and the Padma Shri.
Indian cinema now mourns an actor whose screen presence was difficult to mistake for anyone else’s.
What happened to Nana Patekar?
Veteran actor Nana Patekar died in Goa on October 8, 2026, aged 75. He was taken to Manipal Hospital after being found unresponsive at his residence.
How old was Nana Patekar when he died?
Nana Patekar was 75.
Where did Nana Patekar die?
He died in Goa after being taken to Manipal Hospital from his residence in Dona Paula.
What was reported as the cause of Nana Patekar’s death?
Reports citing hospital information said he suffered a severe cardiac arrest. A medico-legal case was registered and a post-mortem was expected, so the final medical cause should be treated as pending until confirmed.
How many National Film Awards did Nana Patekar win?
He won three National Film Awards: for Parinda, Krantiveer and Agni Sakshi.
Which are Nana Patekar’s most famous films?
Among his best-known films are Parinda, Krantiveer, Agni Sakshi, Ab Tak Chhappan, Welcome and Natsamrat.
Did Nana Patekar receive the Padma Shri?
Yes. The Government of India included Nana Patekar among the 2013 Padma Shri recipients in the arts category.
