Veteran Bollywood Actor Nana Patekar Passes Away at 75 After Cardiac Arrest in Goa

Veteran Indian actor Nana Patekar, celebrated for his intense performances and distinctive dialogue delivery across Hindi and Marathi cinema, died on Thursday morning at the age of 75. He suffered a cardiac arrest at his residence in Dona Paula, Goa, and could not be revived despite prolonged medical efforts.

Patekar was found unresponsive in the early hours of October 8. According to doctors, he had messaged a friend around 2:30–3:30 a.m. complaining of discomfort and pain on the left side of his chest. The friend reached his apartment, where Patekar was living with a caretaker, and found him in distress. He was rushed to Manipal Hospital in Goa.

Dr. Shekhar Salkar, Chief of the Oncology Department at Manipal Hospital, confirmed that medical teams administered continuous CPR for about 45 minutes, but efforts failed. Patekar was declared dead around 5:20 a.m. A medico-legal case has been registered as standard procedure for a sudden death, and a post-mortem examination is underway at Goa Medical College to determine the exact cause.

His son, Malhar Patekar, confirmed the news, stating that his father died of natural causes. Malhar was in Pune at the time and was travelling to Goa. Patekar is survived by his wife (from whom he was separated) and his son.

Born Vishwanath Patekar in 1951 in Maharashtra, Nana began his career in Marathi theatre before making his film debut with Gaman in 1978. He rose to national prominence with the 1989 crime drama Parinda, earning a National Film Award for Best Supporting Actor. He later won National Awards for Best Actor for Krantiveer (1994) and Agni Sakshi (1996).

Known for playing complex, often volatile characters, Patekar delivered powerful performances in films such as Prahaar: The Final Attack, Tirangaa, Khamoshi: The Musical, and the comedy Welcome. He was equally respected in Marathi cinema and theatre, and received the Padma Shri in 2013. In recent years, he appeared in projects including The Vaccine War (2023) and Vanvaas (2024).

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi led the tributes, writing that Patekar’s characters “remain etched in the memory of generations” and that his death left “a vast void in the artistic world.” Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis described him as “as great-hearted as he was great on screen,” calling his death a major loss to the industry. Actor Akshay Kumar, who co-starred with him in Welcome, remembered his rare intensity and honesty.

Just four days before his death, Patekar made a public appearance at an event in Goa, where he spoke about the performing arts and reflected on life, saying, “We all have to go someday. I don’t know whether I will be here tomorrow or not.”

The film fraternity and fans across India are mourning the loss of one of its most distinctive and forceful talents.