Nana Patekar no more

Veteran Indian actor Nana Patekar, known for his intense performances, distinctive dialogue delivery and memorable portrayals across Hindi and Marathi cinema, died in Goa on Thursday at the age of 75.

According to reports from Indian media, Patekar was found unconscious at his home in Dona Paula, Goa.

He was taken to hospital, where doctors attempted to revive him for around 45 minutes. He was declared dead at 5:20am.

A preliminary medical assessment indicated cardiac arrest as the likely cause of death. A medico-legal procedure has been initiated and a post-mortem examination is expected.

Nana Patekar leaves behind a career that stretched across nearly five decades. He made his screen debut with ‘Gaman’ in 1978 and gradually established himself as one of the most recognisable performers in Indian cinema.

His breakthrough came with ‘Parinda’, for which he won the National Film Award for Best Supporting Actor.

He later won the National Film Award for Best Actor for ‘Krantiveer’ and another Best Supporting Actor award for ‘Agni Sakshi’.

For many viewers, however, Patekar’s appeal went beyond awards. His performances often carried a raw intensity that became his signature.

From the crime drama ‘Ab Tak Chhappan’ and political thriller ‘Raajneeti’ to the Marathi classic ‘Natsamrat’, he repeatedly moved between morally complex, emotionally charged and deeply human characters.

He also demonstrated a different side of his range through Uday Shetty in Welcome, turning the character into one of his most widely remembered popular performances.

The actor continued to work in recent years and appeared in Vishal Bhardwaj’s ‘O’Romeo’ in 2026. Patekar’s contribution was recognised with the Padma Shri in 2013.

For audiences in Bangladesh and across South Asia, his legacy is likely to endure through the characters, dialogues and performances that made him one of Indian cinema’s most distinctive and recognisable actors.