Veteran Actor Nana Patekar Dies at 75 After Cardiac Arrest in Goa
Pune/Goa, 8th October 2026: Veteran actor Nana Patekar, one of the most distinctive faces of Hindi and Marathi cinema, died at the age of 75 on Thursday morning after suffering a severe cardiac arrest in Goa.
Patekar died at around 5.20am. Despite doctors administering continuous cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) for nearly 45 minutes, he could not be revived, Dr Shekhar Salkar, chief of the oncology department at Manipal Hospital, said.
“Despite 45 minutes of continuous CPR, he could not be revived. A medico-legal case (MLC) has been registered, and a post-mortem will be conducted,” Salkar said.
The post-mortem is expected to be conducted as part of the medico-legal procedure to establish the exact circumstances surrounding his death.
Born Vishwanath Patekar on January 1, 1951, in Murud in Maharashtra’s Raigad district, Patekar built a career spanning more than four decades. He made his Hindi film debut with Gaman in 1978 and went on to establish himself through powerful performances in films such as Salaam Bombay!, Parinda, Krantiveer, Agni Sakshi, Khamoshi: The Musical, Ab Tak Chhappan, Apaharan, Raajneeti and Welcome.
His performance in Parinda earned him the National Film Award for Best Supporting Actor and a Filmfare Award. He later won several major honours, including three National Film Awards, and was conferred the Padma Shri in 2013 for his contribution to cinema and the arts.
Patekar was also a director and writer. His directorial debut, Prahaar: The Final Attack, reflected his association with the armed forces. He had joined the Territorial Army and later served during the Kargil War, eventually retiring as a lieutenant colonel in 2013.
His work extended beyond Hindi cinema. He was closely associated with Marathi theatre and films and won the Filmfare Award for Best Actor for his performance in the Marathi film Natsamrat. His intense dialogue delivery and ability to portray complex, often morally ambiguous characters became hallmarks of his acting style.
Nana Patekar and Pune
Patekar had a longstanding association with Pune, where he owned a flat as well as a farmhouse in the Khadakwasla area. Reports about his farmhouse have described it as a deliberately simple and understated property, reflecting his preference for a relatively private lifestyle away from the film industry’s spotlight.
His connection with Pune also extended to social work. Patekar and actor Makarand Anaspure spearheaded the NAAM Foundation, established in 2015 in response to the severe drought and agrarian distress in Maharashtra. The organisation has worked on water conservation, village development and initiatives aimed at supporting farmers. Its Pune office is located on Fergusson College Road in Shivajinagar.
Patekar’s death marks the end of a long and influential career in Indian cinema, during which he moved seamlessly between theatre, Hindi and Marathi films, direction and social initiatives.
