Nana Patekar, one of Indian cinema’s most respected actors and a filmmaker, has died at 75. Reports from the Press Trust of India, carried by AP, say he died on Thursday at his home in Goa after a suspected cardiac arrest.
What happened
Patekar was found unconscious at his apartment in Dona Paula, near Panaji, and was taken to a private hospital. A senior doctor there, Shekhar Salkar, told PTI that medical staff performed CPR for 45 minutes without being able to revive him.
A career built on powerful roles
Patekar was known for forceful screen presence and a blunt, candid personality. Entertainment outlets marking his death have pointed to a run of acclaimed titles, including Krantiveer, Agni Sakshi, Parinda, Ab Tak Chhappan, Welcome and Natsamrat. Several of these are now being recommended to fans on streaming services such as Netflix, JioHotstar and Prime Video.
His earlier work is also being revisited. In Tirangaa he played the intense Inspector Shivajirao Wagle, with Bedi cast as a police informer called Khabrilal and Raaj Kumar also in the film. Looking back, Bedi said he worked with Patekar mainly at the start of their careers and had not collaborated with him in a long time. He added that the early work, Tirangaa among it, is still appreciated today. He also described Patekar as a man who kept to himself and did not mix much with others.
The same coverage drew attention to how Patekar’s performances shaped a particular kind of screen hero, an angry, uncompromising figure who stood apart from the polished leading men of his era.
Final projects still to come
Patekar was still working shortly before his death. His recent theatrical releases included Vishal Bhardwaj’s O’Romeo and Subedaar, a film led by Anil Kapoor. Three completed films featuring him have yet to reach audiences and will now be released posthumously:
- Eetha, starring Shraddha Kapoor
- Shakti Shalini, starring Aneet Padda
- The Confession of Mary
No release dates were given in the reports reviewed. The films will give audiences one more chance to see him on screen, and they will probably be watched as a tribute to his career.
A loss felt across the industry
News of his death prompted retrospectives on his best-known films and renewed interest in his older titles on streaming platforms. Fans, colleagues and entertainment outlets have been tracing the range of his work, from hard-edged crime dramas and police stories to comedy and character-driven roles.
For many viewers, Patekar’s appeal came from the conviction he brought to each part, whether the character was menacing, wounded or darkly funny. As the posthumous releases approach, his body of work will likely continue to draw new audiences and keep discussion of his legacy going.
