Veteran actor Nana Patekar passed away at the age of 75 on Thursday morning after suffering a cardiac arrest at his residence in Goa. He was declared dead at around 5:20 am despite attempts by medical personnel to revive him, according to Dr Shekhar Salkar, Head of the Oncology Department at Manipal Hospital.
Cause of death
Nana Patekar was found unconscious at his residence and was given continuous cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) for around 45 minutes. However, doctors were unable to revive him. A medico-legal case (MLC) has been registered in connection with his death, and a postmortem examination will be conducted. His son, Malhar Patekar, was reportedly in Pune when the tragedy took place and has left for Goa.
According to Dr Shekhar Salkar of Manipal Hospital, Patekar’s friend saw the message around 4 am and immediately rushed to the actor’s apartment in Dona Paula, near Panaji.
Salkar said the friend had informed hospital doctors about the message and what followed after he saw it.
Patekar was living at the apartment with a caretaker.
“The friend saw the message around 4 am and rushed to the apartment of Patekar, who was living with a caretaker,” Dr Salkar said.
Nana Patekar's last appearance
Nana Patekar was last seen in public four days ago in Goa’s Dona Paula, where he attended and addressed the installation ceremony of Samraat Club International. A video of him speaking at the event has resurfaced on the internet.
His sudden death stunned the film fraternity and countless admirers across India.
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari mourned the loss, sharing an emotional tribute in Marathi while recalling his close bond with Patekar.
On X, Gadkari wrote, “The news of the demise of veteran actor Nana Patekar, a stalwart of Indian cinema, is extremely shocking and saddening. My heartfelt tribute to him.”
He added, “Nana and I shared a very close and friendly relationship. Through his powerful acting, Nana Patekar ruled the hearts of audiences for more than five decades through Marathi and Hindi films. With his distinctive style of dialogue delivery, he immortalised several characters in cinema and created an identity of his own. His passing is a great loss to Indian cinema.”
Gadkari also highlighted Patekar’s social efforts, stating, “Through the Naam Foundation, his work in the fields of water conservation and water storage in rural Maharashtra has been remarkable and significant. The helping hand he extended to the families of farmers who died by suicide became a source of support for many families.”
He further said, “Nana was not only a great artist and actor, but also a sensitive personality who cared deeply about society. May God grant peace to the departed soul. Om Shanti.”
Beyond his acting excellence, Nana Patekar was known for his activism in water conservation and aiding families affected by farmer suicides in Maharashtra, making his social work a vital part of his public legacy.
Film producer Ashok Pandit remembered Patekar as “a monumental figure in Indian cinema” and a beacon of hope for many farming families in Maharashtra.
On social media, Pandit wrote, “Deeply pained to hear about the demise of the veteran actor and philanthropist, Nana Patekar ji. He was not only a monumental figure in Indian cinema but also a beacon of hope for thousands of farming families in Maharashtra. Sending my prayers and strength to his family during this difficult time. It’s a great loss to the world of theatre & cinema. Om Shanti.”
Actor-filmmaker Ananth Mahadevan, a close associate of Patekar, expressed his heartbreak, sharing a photo and saying, “This is shocking.. heartbreaking… flood of memories of togetherness and life’s philosophies.. shared a wonderful working and personal relationship. Short of words.. the grief is unbearable.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has condoled the demise of veteran actor Nana Patekar, describing him as an artiste who possessed “intensity, individuality and unmistakable presence”.
In a post on social media platform X, the Prime Minister said Nana Patekar brought remarkable versatility and creativity to every role and created characters that would be remembered for generations.
“Few actors possessed the intensity, individuality and unmistakable presence that Shri Nana Patekar Ji had. He brought remarkable versatility and creativity to every role and gave us characters that will be remembered for generations. He was also admired for his frank and forthright views, never hesitating to express what he believed in,” PM Modi said.
The Prime Minister said Patekar’s contribution to Hindi and Marathi cinema was immense and his passing has left a deep void.
“Shri Nana Patekar’s contribution to Hindi and Marathi cinema was immense. His passing leaves a deep void. My condolences to his family, friends and countless admirers. Om Shanti,” he said.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath also condoled the actor’s demise, describing it as an “irreplaceable loss” to the world of art. He recalled Patekar’s contribution to Indian cinema and his commitment to social causes.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said Patekar had carved a distinct identity in Indian cinema through his powerful acting and impactful dialogue delivery. He described his demise as an irreparable loss to the film and art world.
Former Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik also expressed grief over the actor’s passing, recalling his distinctive dialogue delivery and ability to portray complex characters.
About Nana Patekar
Born Vishwanath Patekar, the actor was one of the prominent names in Hindi and Marathi cinema, with a career spanning several decades. He made his Bollywood acting debut with the 1978 film ‘Gaman’, starring Farooq Sheikh and Smita Patil in the lead roles.
Nana Patekar received three National Film Awards during his career and was awarded the Padma Shri in 2013 for his contribution to the arts.