Veteran actor Nana Patekar dies at 75 after cardiac arrest in Goa
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Veteran actor Nana Patekar, one of Hindi and Marathi cinema’s most distinctive performers, died at his home in Goa in the early hours of Thursday after suffering a severe cardiac arrest. He was 75.
Hospital sources said Patekar was found unconscious at his Dona Paula residence and rushed to Manipal Hospital, where doctors declared him brought dead at 5:20 am. Despite nearly 45 minutes of continuous CPR, he could not be revived, Dr Shekhar Salkar, Chief of Oncology at the hospital, told ANI. A medico-legal case has been registered and a post-mortem will be conducted, the doctor added.
His son, Malhar Patekar, confirmed the death to The Indian Express, saying he was in Pune and would issue a detailed statement later. “Yes, the information is true… He died due to natural reasons,” Malhar said, adding that the actor passed away at the family’s Goa house due to cardiac arrest during the night.
Patekar made his film debut with Gaman (1978) after beginning in theatre, and rose to prominence with hard-hitting roles in films such as Parinda (1989), which won him a National Film Award, and Krantiveer (1994), for which he received the National Award for Best Actor. He went on to deliver acclaimed performances in titles including Agni Sakshi, Khamoshi: The Musical, Ab Tak Chhappan, Apaharan, Raajneeti and the comedy Welcome (2007), where his portrayal of gangster Uday Shetty became one of his most remembered roles; he reprised the character in Welcome Back.
In Marathi cinema, Patekar was widely lauded for Natsamrat (2016), playing a retired stage actor, and for Dr Prakash Baba Amte – The Real Hero, which earned him the Filmfare Award for Best Actor (Marathi). He also directed, wrote and acted in Prahaar: The Final Attack (1991). A recipient of three National Film Awards, he was honoured with the Padma Shri in 2013.
Beyond films, Patekar was associated with social work through the Naam Foundation. His death marks the end of a career spanning nearly five decades in Indian cinema.