PANAJI, OCT 8: Veteran actor Nana Patekar, whose intense performances, distinctive dialogue delivery and remarkable versatility made him one of the most recognisable figures in Hindi and Marathi cinema, died in Goa in the early hours of Thursday following a cardiac arrest. He was 75.
Patekar was found unconscious at his residence in Dona Paula near Panaji and was rushed to a private hospital. Doctors attempted to revive him with continuous cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) for around 45 minutes, but he could not be revived and was declared dead in the early morning. A medico-legal case has been registered and a postmortem is being conducted to establish the precise circumstances and medical cause of death.
According to hospital officials, Patekar had messaged a friend around 3:30 am, saying that he was not feeling well. The friend saw the message around 4 am and rushed to the actor’s residence. An ambulance was subsequently sent to the apartment, with emergency treatment beginning en route to the hospital.
The actor’s death brings to an end a career spanning several decades in which he moved seamlessly between Marathi theatre, parallel cinema and mainstream Bollywood, earning acclaim for his ability to portray complex and emotionally intense characters. His performances in films including Parinda, Prahaar, Tirangaa, Krantiveer, Khamoshi: The Musical and other notable productions established him as an actor with a distinctive screen presence.
Patekar was a three-time National Film Award recipient and also received Filmfare and Maharashtra State Film Awards for his work in Hindi and Marathi cinema. His contribution to Indian cinema was further recognised with the Padma Shri, one of the country’s highest civilian honours.
His passing has prompted tributes from across the film industry and public life, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi describing his contribution as one that gave audiences characters likely to be remembered for generations.
Patekar had made a public appearance in Goa only days before his death, attending an event in Dona Paula on October 4. His sudden passing has left the Indian film fraternity and his large body of admirers mourning the loss of an actor whose performances became an enduring part of Indian cinema.
