Nana Patekar, an acclaimed Indian actor and filmmaker, died on Thursday at his home in the western state of Goa. He was 75. The Press Trust of India news agency reported that the cause was a suspected cardiac arrest, citing a doctor at the hospital where he was pronounced dead.
A Five-Decade Career
Born in 1951 in Maharashtra, Patekar built a career spanning nearly five decades in Hindi- and Marathi-language cinema, earning a reputation for intense performances and complex characters. He made his film debut in the 1978 Hindi film “Gaman” and later gained acclaim for his roles in “Parinda” and “Krantiveer.” He also earned international recognition in filmmaker Mira Nair’s Oscar-nominated “Salaam Bombay!”
Awards and Tributes
- Patekar received three National Film Awards and the Padma Shri, one of India’s highest civilian honors.
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi mourned the loss, praising Patekar’s “intensity, individuality and unmistakable presence.”
- Modi wrote on X, “He brought remarkable versatility and creativity to every role and gave us characters that will be remembered for generations.”
Patekar is survived by his wife and son.
