Panaji: Veteran actor Nana Patekar, one of the most respected performers in Hindi and Marathi cinema, died in Goa early on Thursday at the age of 75 after suffering severe chest pain at his residence. His death was confirmed by his son, Malhar Patekar.
According to Malhar, a medical team was called to the family’s flat after Patekar fell seriously ill and was found unresponsive. Doctors attempted to revive him before taking him to Manipal Hospital, where he was declared dead at 5:20 am. Despite 45 minutes of continuous CPR, he could not be revived. The death has been registered as a medico-legal case, with a post-mortem to be conducted. Malhar, who was in Pune at the time, left for Goa after receiving the news. Patekar had made his last public appearance just days earlier at a social event in Goa.
Born Vishwanath Patekar on January 1, 1951, in Murud-Janjira in Maharashtra’s Raigad district, he began his acting career in theatre before making his Hindi film debut with “Gaman” in 1978. Over a career spanning nearly five decades, he played villains, supporting characters and leads with equal intensity, working across Hindi, Marathi and Tamil cinema. His defining films include “Parinda,” “Krantiveer,” “Agni Sakshi,” “Khamoshi: The Musical,” “Ab Tak Chhappan” and the Marathi classic “Natsamrat,” widely regarded as an all-time great performance. His last film was “Subedar” (2026).
Patekar won three National Film Awards, for Best Supporting Actor in “Parinda” and “Agni Sakshi” and Best Actor for “Krantiveer,” along with five Filmfare Awards for films including “Parinda,” “Angaar,” “Krantiveer,” “Apharan” and “Natsamrat.” He was conferred the Padma Shri in 2013.
He married Marathi actress Neelakanti Patekar in 1978, though the couple lived separately for many years. They had two sons, Durvasa and Malhar. Their elder son, Durvasa, died at the age of two, a loss that remained the greatest tragedy of Patekar’s life. Malhar works in the film industry.
Beyond cinema, Patekar was widely admired for his philanthropy. Together with actor Makrand Anaspure, he co-founded the Naam Foundation to provide financial support to thousands of farmers in Maharashtra affected by drought and crop distress.