Nana Patekar, one of Indian cinema’s most powerful and uncompromising actors, died on Thursday, October 8, 2026, at his home in Goa. He was 75. The actor suffered a cardiac arrest at his residence in Dona Paula and was pronounced dead at 5:20 a.m. at Manipal Hospital, where doctors attempted CPR for 45 minutes without success.
A Sudden End to a Fearless Life
Patekar complained of severe chest pain in the early hours of Thursday. A medical team was sent to his home, where he was found unconscious. He was rushed to the hospital, but his heart showed no electrical activity throughout the resuscitation efforts.
His son, Malhar Patekar, confirmed the news to BBC Marathi. A medico-legal case has been registered, and a post-mortem examination is being conducted to determine the exact cause of death.
Four days before his death, Patekar attended the Samraat Club International installation ceremony in Dona Paula on October 4. Addressing the crowd, he spoke about the fleeting nature of life:
“We all have to go someday. I don’t know whether I will be here tomorrow or not. Every person’s life will eventually reach that point. But before that happens, I have to ask myself: am I able to do what I want to do?”
From Rs 35 a Month to Three National Awards
Born Vishwanath Patekar on January 1, 1951, in Murud Janjira, Maharashtra, he began his journey far from the spotlight. Before films, he painted film posters for Rs 35 a month. His career spanned nearly five decades, beginning with the 1978 Hindi film Gaman.
The turning point came with Vidhu Vinod Chopra’s Parinda in 1989, where his portrayal of the volatile gangster Anna won him his first National Film Award for Best Supporting Actor and a Filmfare Award in the same category. He went on to win two more National Film Awards — Best Actor for Krantiveer in 1994 and Best Supporting Actor for Agni Sakshi in 1996.
Patekar achieved a rare distinction: winning Filmfare awards in all three major categories — Best Supporting Actor, Best Actor, and Best Villain. In 2013, he received the Padma Shri, one of India’s highest civilian honours, for his contribution to cinema and the arts.
His other memorable films include Salaam Bombay!, Tirangaa, Khamoshi, Prahaar (which he also directed), Ab Tak Chhappan, Apaharan, Rajneeti, Welcome, and the Marathi film Natsamrat, in which he played a retired stage actor.
The Industry Remembers a One-of-a-Kind Talent
Tributes poured in from across the film industry and beyond. Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Patekar’s characters would “remain etched in the memory of generations,” adding that his death left “a vast void in the artistic world”.
Akshay Kumar, who worked with Patekar in Welcome and Housefull 5, said:
“Really saddened by the news of Nana ji’s passing. Nana ji was truly one of a kind. It’s hard to believe you’re gone. Thank you for all the memories. You will be missed more than words can say.”
Anupam Kher teared up in a video message, calling Patekar one of the greatest actors in Indian cinema and recalling how Patekar would call him out of the blue to praise his work.
Rajinikanth said he could not believe his “dear friend Nanaji” was no more. Riteish Deshmukh wrote: “I am shocked beyond words. Feels like a truck has hit me. Deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Nana Patekar ji. An actor par excellence, incomparable to anyone”.
Suniel Shetty remembered him as “fiercely honest” and “a master of your craft,” writing that “there was only one Nana Patekar”. Pankaj Tripathi called the loss personal: “For me, this feels like losing a Guru. This truly feels like the end of an era”.
Madhuri Dixit, Ranveer Singh, Alia Bhatt, Sunny Deol, Bobby Deol, Hrithik Roshan, Sanjay Dutt, Manoj Bajpayee, Manisha Koirala, and Paresh Rawal were among the many others who shared their grief.
A Life in Pictures
Photographs from across Patekar’s life and career have been shared widely since his death. Archival images show him as a young man on the sets of Mira Nair’s Salaam Bombay! in 1988, long before the world knew his name.
Other throwback pictures capture him with Raaj Kumar on the sets of Tirangaa in 1993, in candid moments with co-stars at award ceremonies, and in rare family portraits with his mother, wife, and son.
A video from his April 2026 workout session also resurfaced, showing the 75-year-old actor performing tricep dips using a gamcha (a traditional cotton towel), a moment that had already impressed the internet months before his death.
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Funeral to Be Held with Full State Honours
Patekar’s mortal remains were airlifted from Goa to Pune on Thursday afternoon. His last rites will be performed at his farmhouse in Donje village near Pune with full state honours, as announced by the Maharashtra government.
The remains were expected to reach Pune by around 5 p.m., after which fans were allowed to pay their last respects. The cremation was scheduled for the evening at the farmhouse premises. Ganesh Thorat, CEO of Patekar’s Naam Foundation, confirmed the arrangements.
Maharashtra’s Culture Minister Ashish Shelar said the decision to accord full state honours was made in recognition of Patekar’s outstanding contributions to Marathi theatre, cinema, and social causes.
Family and Personal Life
Patekar is survived by his wife, Neelkanthi Patekar, and son, Malhar. The couple married in 1978 and had two sons. Their elder son, Durvasa, died at the age of two and a half. His brothers, Ashok and Dilip, also survive him.
Neelkanthi, an actor and writer in her own right, supported the family financially during Patekar’s early years in theatre when he earned as little as Rs 50 per show.
Beyond the Screen: Farmer Welfare and Social Work
Patekar was known for his outspoken nature and his work on issues close to his heart, particularly farmer welfare. In 2015, he and actor Makarand Anaspure established the Naam Foundation, which has worked on farmer welfare and water conservation in Maharashtra.
He also served as a volunteer during the 1999 Kargil War, and his work with farmers remained a defining part of his public life outside cinema.
Also Read: Yogi Adityanath Praises Nana Patekar for Quietly Helping Farmers During Suicide Crisis
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