Veteran Bollywood actor and filmmaker Nana Patekar died at the age of 75 on Thursday after suffering a cardiac arrest at his residence in Dona Paula, Goa.
Patekar was found unconscious at his home and was rushed to a private hospital, where doctors attempted to revive him through continuous cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) for around 45 minutes. Despite the efforts, he could not be revived and was declared dead at around 5:10 to 5:20am.
A medico-legal case has been registered, and authorities are expected to conduct a post-mortem examination to establish the exact cause of death.
Nana Patekar’s decades-long film career
Born Vishwanath Patekar in Maharashtra in 1951, the actor began his film career in 1978 with Gaman. He went on to build a career spanning nearly five decades across Hindi and Marathi cinema.
Patekar became known for his intense screen presence, powerful dialogue delivery and ability to portray complex characters. His notable films included Parinda, Prahaar: The Final Act, Tirangaa, Krantiveer, Khamoshi: The Musical, Ab Tak Chhappan and Welcome.
He also gained international recognition for his appearance in Mira Nair’s Salaam Bombay! and remained active in Indian cinema throughout his career.
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Three National Film Awards and Padma Shri
Patekar was a three-time recipient of the National Film Award. He was also honoured with several other major awards during his career.
In 2013, the Indian government awarded him the Padma Shri, one of the country’s highest civilian honours, for his contribution to the arts.
News of his death prompted tributes from figures across India’s film and political circles, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi among those expressing condolences and remembering Patekar’s contribution to cinema.
Patekar’s death marks the loss of one of Indian cinema’s distinctive performers, whose career spanned theatre, Marathi and Hindi films and several generations of audiences.
