Veteran Bollywood actor Nana Patekar passes away at 75

Vishwanath, also known as Nana Patekar, an unparalleled actor in Indian cinema and a personality of exceptional character, has bid farewell to his life's journey. He collapsed unconscious after experiencing severe chest pain at his home in Dona Paula, Goa, in the early hours of Thursday, October 8, 2026.

He was 75 years old at the time.

After his condition became critical in the early hours, a medical team administered cardiac massage at his home, and he was then immediately rushed to Manipal Hospital in Dona Paula. However, Dr. Shekhar Salkar, Head of Oncology at Manipal Hospital, confirmed to news agencies that he could not be revived despite 45 minutes of continuous CPR. Consequently, his death was officially announced at 5:20 AM. Although initial reports indicated a heart attack as the cause of death, the IANS news agency reported that he was already deceased upon arrival at the hospital. A post-mortem examination is scheduled for today to ascertain the exact medical and legal reasons, and this has been registered as a medico-legal case. As of Thursday morning, no official statement had been released by family members.

He had come to Goa to attend a public event. Around October 4 or 5, he addressed the gathering at the Samrat Club International event in Panaji, dressed in a white kurta and gamcha, and also commented on former Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar. NDTV, quoting PTI news agency, reported that this was considered his last public appearance.

Both the Indian art world and the political sphere have expressed their sorrow over his sudden demise. Ramdas Athawale, a Union Minister, expressed his condolences via ABP channel. Marathi actor Siddharth Jadhav told the media that he was deeply shocked and that it was not his time to go. Additionally, veteran singer Usha Uthup told NDTV that people learned 100% honesty from Nana Patekar.

Born on January 1, 1951, into a Marathi family in Murud-Janjira, Raigad district, Maharashtra, Nana Patekar studied at Sir J.J. Institute of Applied Art in Mumbai. He entered cinema in 1978 with Muzaffar Ali's film 'Gaman' and established his identity through films like 'Ankush,' 'Pratighaat,' and Mira Nair's Oscar-nominated 'Salaam Bombay' (1988). Winning the National Film Award for Best Supporting Actor and the Filmfare Award for his role as Anna Seth in Vidhu Vinod Chopra's 'Parinda' in 1989 was a turning point in his career.

In the 1990s, films he directed himself, such as 'Prahaar,' 'Angaar,' 'Tirangaa,' 'Krantiveer' (National Award for Best Actor), 'Agni Sakshi' (National Award for Best Supporting Actor), and 'Khamoshi,' perfectly showcased his exceptional acting talent. Later, he won audience appreciation through roles like Sadhu Agashe in 'Ab Tak Chhappan,' and characters in 'Apaharan,' 'Raajneeti,' as well as Uday Shetty in 'Welcome' and 'Welcome Back.' In 2016, he received the Filmfare Marathi Best Actor Award for his performance in the Marathi film 'Natsamrat,' and he also delivered a notable performance in the Marathi film 'Dr. Prakash Baba Amte.' Throughout his life, he was honored with three National Film Awards, four Filmfare Awards, and the Padma Shri Award in 2013. Recently, he was scheduled to meet audiences through 'Vanvaas' (2024), 'Housefull 5' (2025), Vishal Bhardwaj's 'O’Romeo' which premiered in February 2026, Anil Kapoor's 'Subedaar' on Prime Video in March 2026, and Prakash Jha's 'Sankalp' series in 2026.

Nana Patekar was not just a figure confined to cinema. He underwent voluntary military training for the film 'Prahaar' and served as a Major with the Maratha Light Infantry Regiment during the 1999 Kargil War, retiring as an Honorary Lieutenant Colonel in 2013. In 2015, he co-founded the Naam Foundation with Makarand Anaspure, which provided relief to drought-affected farming families in the Vidarbha and Marathwada regions. He personally distributed relief checks to these farming families.

He married Neelakanthi Patekar, a former bank officer and Marathi stage and film actress, in 1978, but later separated from her. Durvasa and Malhar Patekar, who died in childhood, were his two sons. He had two brothers named Ashok and Dileep. Nana's father, Gajanan, died of a heart attack when Nana was 28. His mother, Nirmala, passed away at the age of 99 on January 29, 2019. The media had also linked him with Manisha Koirala and Ayesha Jhulka. Although he made Andheri, Mumbai, his base, Nana Patekar preferred to live a quieter life away from the city. The voice of this extraordinary man, who left an indelible mark on both the silver screen and in real life, was silenced forever in the early hours of a morning in Goa.