Veteran Indian actor and filmmaker Nana Patekar died at the age of 75 after suffering a cardiac arrest at his residence in Goa on Thursday, October 8, 2026.
The actor was found unconscious at his home and taken to Manipal Hospital in Goa, where doctors attempted to revive him.
He was pronounced dead at approximately 5:20 a.m, according to reports.
His son, Malhar Patekar, confirmed his death, marking the end of a career that spanned nearly five decades across Hindi and Marathi cinema.
Born Vishwanath Patekar in Maharashtra in 1951, the actor built a reputation for his commanding screen presence, distinctive voice and intense portrayals of complex characters.
He made his film debut in 1978 with Gaman, before establishing himself as one of India’s most respected performers through films including Parinda, krantiveer and Salaam Bombay.
His performance in Parinda earned him the National Film Award for Best Supporting Actor, while his role in Krantiveer brought him the National Film Award for Best Actor.
He went on to receive three National Film Awards during his career.
Patekar also gained international recognition through Mira Nair’s Salaam Bombay, which explored the lives of children living on the streets of Mumbai and received an Academy Award nomination for Best Foreign Language Film.
Beyond acting, he worked as a filmmaker and remained active in theatre, demonstrating his versatility across different forms of performance.
His contribution to Indian cinema was recognised in 2013 when he received the Padma Shri, one of India’s highest civilian honours.
Patekar’s performances often combined intensity with emotional depth, allowing him to excel in serious dramas as well as comedy.
He shared the screen with leading Bollywood actors, including Amitabh Bachchan and Shah Rukh Khan, while earning admiration for his distinctive acting style.
Following his death, people have been paying tributes to the veteran actor across the globe.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute to the actor, praising his versatility and creativity and noting that his characters would be remembered for generations.
“Patekar portrayed characters that would remain etched in the memory of generations,” Modi wrote on X.
His death leaves a significant gap in Indian cinema, where his decades-long career helped establish him as a distinctive figure in both mainstream Bollywood and regional filmmaking.
Patekar is survived by his wife, Neelkanti Patekar, from whom he was separated and their son, Malhar.