“He Never Treated Us Like Drivers”: Nana Patekar’s Driver Breaks Down While Remembering Actor

Pune, 8th October 2026: Veteran actor Nana Patekar’s death has left the film industry and those who worked closely with him, in mourning. His longtime driver, Yash Paigude, became emotional while recalling his bond with the actor, saying Patekar never treated him merely as a driver but accepted him as a member of the family.

Speaking to media, Paigude said the relationship he shared with Patekar went beyond a professional association.

“Something terrible happened suddenly. The bond between Sahib and us was very strong. He never treated us as drivers; he accepted us as members of his family. Our relationship was beyond the boundaries of a household,” Paigude said.

Paigude, who is from Pune, recalled that Patekar had stayed at Nana Wadi in Donje for around 10 days during Ganeshotsav. He said they had spoken during the actor’s stay and that Patekar had later travelled to Goa for a break.

“I cannot express our grief in words. I still cannot believe it,” Paigude said. He added, “With Sahib gone, it feels like the protective hand over our heads is no longer there.”

Nana Patekar’s Final Hours

According to information shared by Dr Shekhar Salkar, Head of the Oncology Department at Manipal Hospital, Patekar reportedly began feeling unwell at around 2:30 am and sent a message to a friend.

As it was late at night, the friend did not see the message immediately. After noticing it, he reached Patekar’s residence at around 4 am, where he found the actor unconscious on the floor.

The friend immediately alerted the caretaker and called for an ambulance. A medical team arrived at the residence and attempted to revive Patekar through CPR. However, there was no response.

He was subsequently taken to Manipal Hospital, where doctors continued resuscitation efforts. Despite the attempts, doctors declared him dead at around 5:20 am, according to Dr Salkar.

Patekar, who had established himself as a prominent actor in both Hindi and Marathi cinema, had built his career after overcoming significant hardships. His death has prompted an outpouring of grief from the film fraternity and those who knew him personally.