Nana Patekar, the intense and versatile force of Hindi and Marathi cinema, died at the age of 75

Nana Patekar was declared dead at around 5:20 am local time at Manipal Hospital. According to doctors, he had complained of discomfort and left-side chest pain in the early hours. A friend and caretaker found him in distress; CPR was administered at home and continued for nearly 45 minutes at the hospital, but he could not be revived. A medico-legal case was registered and a post-mortem ordered.

Born Vishwanath Patekar on 1 January 1951 in Murud-Janjira, Maharashtra, he became one of Indian cinema’s most distinctive performers, raw, unpredictable, and capable of both volcanic intensity and unexpected comic timing. His career spanned nearly five decades across Hindi and Marathi films, theatre, and occasional directing.

Awards and Honours

Patekar was a three-time National Film Award winner and a four-time Filmfare Award recipient. Key wins include:

• National Film Awards: Best Supporting Actor for Parinda (1989/1990), Best Actor for Krantiveer (1994/1995), and Best Supporting Actor for Agni Sakshi (1996/1997).
• Filmfare Awards: Best Supporting Actor for Parinda, Best Actor for Krantiveer, Best Performance in a Negative Role for Angaar, and Best Performance in a Negative Role for Apaharan.
• He also received the Padma Shri in 2013 for his contribution to cinema and the arts, along with Filmfare Marathi Awards (including for Dr Prakash Baba Amte – The Real Hero and recognition for Natsamrat), Screen Awards, IIFA, and others. He remains one of the few actors to win Filmfare awards across Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor, and Best Villain categories.

Last Released Work

Patekar stayed active in 2026. His final theatrical release was O’Romeo (February 2026), directed by Vishal Bhardwaj, in which he played DCP Ismail Khan opposite Shahid Kapoor and Triptii Dimri. He also appeared in a special role in Subedaar (premiered on Prime Video in March 2026) alongside Anil Kapoor, and in the series Sankalp. Recent credits include Housefull 5 (2025) and Vanvaas (2024).

Beyond the screen, he served in the Territorial Army (rising to the rank of Honorary Lieutenant Colonel), supported farmers through social initiatives, and left an indelible mark with performances in films such as Parinda, Krantiveer, Ab Tak Chhappan, Welcome, Natsamrat, and many others. His death marks the end of a singular, uncompromising chapter in Indian cinema.