Veteran Indian actor Nana Patekar has died at the age of 75 after suffering a severe cardiac arrest at his residence in Goa, according to Indian media reports.
The actor, whose real name was Vishwanath Patekar, was found unconscious at his home in Dona Paula, Goa, before being taken to hospital. Doctors attempted to revive him, but he could not be saved.
Nana Patekar Dies After Cardiac Arrest
According to ANI, Dr Shekhar Salkar of Manipal Hospital said medical personnel responded after Patekar complained of chest pain and was found unconscious.
Doctors reportedly performed CPR for around 45 minutes, but the actor did not respond to treatment. He was declared dead in the early hours of Thursday, October 8, 2026. A medico-legal case was registered and a post-mortem examination was expected to be conducted.
A Career Spanning Hindi and Marathi Cinema
Patekar began his film career with Gaman in 1978 and went on to build a career spanning Hindi and Marathi cinema, along with appearances in other Indian-language films.
He earned widespread critical recognition for performances in films including Parinda, Krantiveer, Agni Sakshi, Prahaar, Ab Tak Chhappan and Natsamrat. His career also included work as a filmmaker and theatre artist.
Patekar won three National Film Awards, including Best Supporting Actor for Parinda and Agni Sakshi and Best Actor for Krantiveer. He was also awarded the Padma Shri in 2013 for his contribution to the arts.
Nana Patekar’s Popularity Among a New Generation
While Patekar had already established himself as a respected dramatic actor, a younger generation of audiences came to know him particularly well through his role as gangster Uday Shetty in the 2007 comedy Welcome.
The character became one of the most recognisable comic performances of his career and introduced his distinctive dialogue delivery and screen presence to a wider mainstream audience.
Patekar remained active in Indian cinema for decades, with his later work continuing to span different genres and languages.
His death marks the end of a career that lasted nearly five decades and left a lasting presence in both Hindi and Marathi cinema.
About Tamoor Ahmed
Tamoor Ahmad has been covering politics since 2022.
