Veteran Indian actor Nana Patekar has died at the age of 75 in Goa. He was admitted to a hospital after being found unconscious at his home in the early hours of Thursday. Despite 45 minutes of continuous CPR, he could not be revived, according to Dr Shekhar Salkar of Manipal Hospital in Goa. Patekar was a prominent figure in Indian cinema, known for his intense and fiery performances on stage and in film.
Patekar won three National Film Awards and was known for playing difficult and often volatile characters. He was also a prominent figure in Marathi language cinema and theatre. His portrayal of characters that would "remain etched in the memory of generations" was praised by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who led tributes to the actor. Modi wrote on X that Patekar's death had left "a vast void in the artistic world".
Tributes have poured in from actors and politicians across India. Bollywood veteran Anupam Kher paid tribute to his friend on social media, saying he would miss his warmth and extraordinary performances. Kher called Patekar "one of the finest actors and human beings in Indian cinema". Another Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan called him "a mentor, a teacher, a critic and a friend", adding that Patekar has "left a void not only in the world of cinema but in the hearts of all Indians and the world".
Patekar made his debut with the film Gaman in 1978 and continued to play smaller roles in several films. However, it was his role in Parinda in 1989 that made him a household name across India. He won his first National Film Award and a Filmfare Award for his portrayal of the gangster Anna in the film. He went on to play many memorable roles in films in the 1990s, showcasing the depth of his acting talent and mastery of his craft.
Patekar was known for his activism and didn’t mince his words while criticising the government of the day. He was direct, and almost brazen and unapologetic, when it came to criticising ministers and their policies – and did so quite publicly. Issues related to farmers were particularly close to his heart. In 2015, he and actor Makarand Anaspure established the Naam Foundation, which has worked on farmer welfare and water conservation in Maharashtra.
However, Patekar's career was not without controversies. In 2018, allegations of sexual harassment made by actor Tanushree Dutta against Patekar over an alleged incident on a film set a decade earlier helped spark India's #MeToo movement. Patekar denied the allegations and was later cleared of the charges after police said they had not found sufficient evidence against him.
Family, friends and fans paid their last respects to Patekar at Goa Medical College, ahead of his funeral, which was to take place later that day with full state honours at his farmhouse in Pune, Maharashtra. His remains were flown to Pune by air ambulance, where the state's Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis paid his last respects, before Patekar's body was taken to his farm in Donje village, where last rites were performed, and he was cremated.
Key points
- Nana Patekar, a veteran Indian actor, has died at the age of 75 in Goa.
- Patekar was known for his intense and fiery performances on stage and in film, and won three National Film Awards.
- Tributes have poured in from actors and politicians across India, praising Patekar's versatility and outspoken personality.
