Nana Patekar Dies at 75 in Goa; State Funeral Planned at Pune Farmhouse

Nana Patekar Dies at 75 in Goa; State Funeral Planned at Pune Farmhouse

Veteran actor Nana Patekar, one of the most respected performers in Hindi and Marathi cinema, died in Goa on Thursday at the age of 75 after a cardiac arrest. He will be cremated with full state honours at his farmhouse in Donje village near Sinhagad Road in Pune, where preparations were under way through the afternoon.

Patekar died at 5:20 am. His son, Malhar, confirmed the news to The Indian Express. Speaking from Pune as he made his way to Goa, Malhar said, "Yes, the information is true. I am in Pune right now and reaching Goa. I will come up with detailed statement. He died due to natural reasons."

How the Actor Died

Patekar suffered a cardiac arrest at his residence in Dona Paula, Goa. According to Dr Shekhar Salkar of Manipal Hospital, who spoke to PTI, the actor's caretaker reached the hospital at around 4:18 to 4:20 am and took an ambulance to Patekar's nearby flat. By the time the medical team arrived, the actor was on the ground, unconscious and almost unresponsive.

Doctors began CPR at the flat and continued it on the way to the hospital, which took about ten minutes, and again after arrival. ANI reported that CPR was administered continuously for 45 minutes.

"It was like he was brought dead," Dr Salkar said, adding that the hospital had to register a medico-legal case. He said the cause of the cardiac arrest was not known, but that Patekar was a known cardiac patient and, as far as the hospital had been told, was on medication.

The body was moved from Manipal Hospital to Goa Medical College and Hospital in Bambolim for a post-mortem examination. Relatives, friends and fans gathered there to pay their respects. Patekar's nephew, Sachin Patekar, was seen breaking down in grief. Actor Sayaji Shinde, who was shooting nearby, came to the hospital after hearing the news, as did Nationalist Congress Party (SP) chief Sharad Pawar. Pawar told reporters that Patekar had made an important contribution to art and drama, and called his death shocking.

State Funeral and Last Rites in Pune

Maharashtra Cultural Affairs Minister Ashish Shelar announced that the state government would accord Patekar a state funeral, citing his contribution to Marathi theatre and to Marathi and Hindi cinema. On X, Shelar wrote that the government had decided to conduct the last rites "with full state honors." He described the death as a profound loss to the world of art.

The mortal remains were to be flown from Goa's Manohar International Airport to Pune by air ambulance. Ambulances and police vehicles gathered at Pune Airport ahead of the arrival. The body was then to be taken to the actor's farmhouse in Donje village, near Khadakwasla, where a period of public darshan was planned before the cremation with police honours.

Reports from the site said the cremation ground on land near the farmhouse was being prepared, with earth-moving machinery in use and volunteers from Patekar's Naam Foundation helping. The final rites were scheduled for 4 pm on Thursday, October 8, and several political and film figures were expected to attend.

A Career That Spanned Theatre and Cinema

Born Vishwanath Patekar, he made his film debut in Gaman in 1978. Over the following decades he worked across Hindi and Marathi cinema, building a reputation for intense, grounded performances. His better-known Hindi films include Parinda, Prahaar, Agni Sakshi, Khamoshi: The Musical, Shakti: The Power, Ab Tak Chhappan, Apaharan, Rajneeti and Welcome. In Marathi, he was widely admired for Natsamrat and Ole Aale.

Patekar won three National Film Awards. His performance in Parinda earned him the National Award for Best Supporting Actor, and Krantiveer brought him the National Award for Best Actor. His only Filmfare Best Actor award also came for Krantiveer, which Dilip Kumar presented to him. He was also a Padma Shri recipient, along with several Filmfare awards, the Maharashtra State Film Award and Filmfare Awards Marathi.

Director Mehul Kumar had earlier recalled that Dilip Kumar, after watching a trial of Krantiveer in 1994, predicted that the film's label would stay with Patekar for life. His most recent film was Suresh Triveni's Subedaar, in which he appeared alongside Anil Kapoor.

Personal Life and Social Work

Patekar's personal life included periods of hardship. He was separated from his wife, Neelakanti Patekar, a former bank officer, writer, theatre artist and National Award-winning Marathi actor, who had supported him financially in his early years. The two stayed in touch through their son, Malhar. Their first child, Durvasa, died at the age of two after an illness.

Outside films, he was known for his work through the Naam Foundation, which focuses on farmers and rural communities in Maharashtra. Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said the foundation's work in water conservation and watershed management in rural Maharashtra was significant, and that its support for the families of farmers who died by suicide had helped many households. Trade analyst Joginder Tuteja said Patekar regularly donated to orphanages and other centres without publicising it. Producer Boney Kapoor said he had given a significant part of his earnings to social causes, including the Baba Amte Aashram.

His Last Public Appearances

Days before his death, Patekar attended a function organised by Samraat Club International in Goa. A friend, Akshay Khandeparkar, said the actor lifted the mood at the event, and videos of him dancing with children have since circulated online. Another clip, recorded at a cultural performance in Panjim, shows him playing the traditional Goan instrument shamel.

At a social event in Dona Paula on October 4, while remembering the late former Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, Patekar spoke about the uncertainty of life. "We all have to go someday. I don't know whether I will be here tomorrow," he said, adding that people should ask whether they have made the effort to do what they want to do.

Tributes From Political Leaders

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on X that few actors had Patekar's "intensity, individuality and unmistakable presence," and that his contribution to Hindi and Marathi cinema was immense. He also noted that Patekar was admired for his frank views. Later, while inaugurating the 10th India Mobile Congress in New Delhi, Modi called him a "Krantiveer" who used his films to attack social evils. Actor and BJP MP Kangana Ranaut called the Prime Minister's remarks a beautiful ode to the actor.

President Droupadi Murmu said Patekar's performances brought a wide range of human experience to life and noted his commitment to social service. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said the actor was as great-hearted as he was great on screen, and recalled his work with the Naam Foundation among farmers and drought-hit communities.

Other political figures who paid tribute included Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan, former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Aam Aadmi Party leader Arvind Kejriwal and former Army chief General VK Singh. General Singh, who observed Patekar closely during the filming of Prahaar, said he was "not merely a remarkable actor, but a powerful presence."

Film Industry Pays Tribute

Shah Rukh Khan described Patekar as a mentor, teacher, critic and friend. He recalled their first meeting, when Patekar slapped his hand away as he fiddled with his hair and told him not to style it like a hero because he was an actor. Khan wrote that Patekar never flattered people and told them what they needed to hear. He also remembered the actor's carrom victories over him.

Akshay Kumar, who worked with Patekar in Welcome and Housefull 5, said he never needed to do too much to make audiences sit up and watch. Riteish Deshmukh, who shared the screen with him in Bluffmaster and Housefull 5, called the death the end of an era. Sanjay Dutt remembered him as a brother and friend, while Mithun Chakraborty described him as one of his closest friends.

Mohanlal said Patekar brought rare intensity, depth and honesty to every role. Allu Arjun, Jr NTR, Chiranjeevi, Hrithik Roshan, Alia Bhatt, Vicky Kaushal, Farhan Akhtar, Juhi Chawla, Manisha Koirala, Suniel Shetty and Ranveer Singh were among the many others to pay tribute.

Pankaj Tripathi, who worked with him in Kaala, said he felt he had lost a guru. Pa Ranjith, who directed that film, called him an icon and spoke of his generosity and professionalism. Ashutosh Rana, who worked with him in Tarkieb and Ab Tak Chhappan 2, said Patekar always treated fellow actors with warmth.

Amol Palekar said he had spoken to Patekar just a day earlier, when the actor called to say he had missed Palekar's new play but would attend the next performance. Smriti Irani recalled him as "Dada," saying their last conversation was an invitation to visit him in Pune. Ex-police officer Daya Nayak, on whom Patekar's character in Ab Tak Chhappan was based, said the two had spoken only days before.

Cricketers Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli and Yuvraj Singh also paid tribute. Tendulkar remembered Patekar as a "very straightforward and grounded person" whose work had the same honesty. Ratna Pathak Shah recalled being "electrified" by his performance in the Marathi play Aala Adaanyacha Gada in the early 1980s, while Naseeruddin Shah said he regretted never having worked with him.

Tanushree Dutta's Reaction

Actor Tanushree Dutta also responded to the news in a video posted on social media, offering condolences to Patekar's family. She was aware, she said, that the media would be interested in her reaction, and referred to the situation as "evil dead." Dutta had accused Patekar of sexual harassment during the shooting of the 2008 film Horn OK Pleassss. Patekar denied the allegations.

Sources by:

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