Veteran Indian actor Nana Patekar died at 75 in Goa after a sudden cardiac arrest. He was found unconscious at his home in the early hours of Thursday and was rushed to Manipal Hospital, where doctors could not revive him despite 45 minutes of CPR.
Dr Shekhar Salkar, the hospital’s chief, confirmed that Patekar had suffered a cardiac event, though the trigger was unclear. The actor’s family, friends and fans gathered at Goa Medical College before his funeral, which was held later that day with full state honours at his farmhouse in Pune, Maharashtra.
Patekar’s body was flown to Pune by air ambulance, where Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis paid his last respects. The actor was cremated at his farm in Donje village after the state‑sponsored ceremony.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bollywood veterans Anupam Kher, Shah Rukh Khan and Akshay Kumar all paid tribute on social media, praising his versatility and saying his death left a “vast void” in Indian cinema.
With three National Film Awards for Parinda, Krantiveer and Agni Sakshi, Patekar was celebrated for intense, often volatile characters in both Hindi and Marathi films and theatre. He also founded the Naam Foundation in 2015 to support farmer welfare and water conservation.
He faced a sexual‑harassment allegation in 2018, which was dismissed by police in 2019. Despite controversies, his legacy as a powerful performer and outspoken activist remains.
Fans and colleagues will remember Patekar’s distinctive rasping voice and uncompromising stage presence, which earned him a lasting place in Indian cinema history.
