Nana Patekar Dies at 75, Last Rites to Be Held With State Honours

• Veteran actor Nana Patekar died in Goa on Thursday at the age of 75.
• Patekar suffered a cardiac arrest at his home in Goa around 5:20 am.
• His last rites will be performed at his farmhouse in Donje near Pune.
• The funeral will be conducted with state honours, according to his social organisation’s representative.
• Patekar is survived by his wife and son, Malhar.
• He was known for major Hindi and Marathi films including Parinda, Krantiveer, Natsamrat and Welcome.

Veteran actor Nana Patekar died in Goa on Thursday after suffering a cardiac arrest at his residence. He was 75. His last rites will be performed at his farmhouse in Donje, on the outskirts of Pune, with state honours.

Ganesh Thorat, CEO of Patekar’s Naam Foundation, said the actor’s mortal remains would be brought to Pune by around 5 pm and kept there for the last darshan before the cremation.

“The mortal remains will be brought (to Pune) by around 5 pm, and later will be kept for the last ‘darshan’. The last rites will be performed on the premises of his farmhouse,” Thorat said.

Patekar’s son Malhar also confirmed his death. According to the statement cited in the source batch, Malhar said he was in Pune and travelling to Goa, adding that his father died due to natural reasons.

Patekar was admitted to a private hospital in Dona Paula after suffering the cardiac arrest at around 5:20 am. Hospital sources said doctors attempted to revive him with CPR for almost 45 minutes but could not do so.

Born Vishwanath Patekar into a Marathi family in Murud-Janjira in Maharashtra’s Raigad district, he made his Bollywood acting debut with the 1978 drama Gaman. His career went on to span Hindi and Marathi cinema, with performances in films including Parinda, Krantiveer, Prahaar: The Final Attack, Ab Tak Chhappan, Khamoshi: The Musical, Agni Sakshi, Apaharan, Welcome, The Attacks of 26/11 and Raajneeti.

His Marathi film credits included Natsamrat, Aapla Maanus, Deool, Pak Pak Pakaak, Shala, Yeshwant, Ekda Kaay Zala, Dharamveer, Vajandaar and Sarsenapati Hambirrao.

Patekar received three National Film Awards, four Filmfare Awards, two Maharashtra State Film Awards and Filmfare Awards Marathi for his acting performances. He was also honoured with the Padma Shri.

Tributes recall Patekar’s distinctive screen presence

Actor Rakesh Bedi, who worked with Patekar in the 1993 film Tirangaa, recalled the actor as someone who maintained an independent personality and did not easily mix with others.

“He was his own kind of person; he didn’t mix much with anyone,” Bedi said.

Bedi also praised Patekar’s approach to choosing roles and films, saying he respected the actor for working on his own terms. He described Patekar’s screen persona as a second “angry young man” during the era associated with Amitabh Bachchan.

“I have a lot of respect for him because he is a man who worked on his own conditions — the kind of cinema he wanted to do, the kind of roles he wanted to do. In his time, I would say that during Mr (Amitabh) Bachchan’s era, he created another angry young man. That was a very big feat at that time,” Bedi said.

Patekar’s final public appearance also drew attention after his remarks about mortality resurfaced following his death. At a social event in Dona Paula on October 4, he spoke about the uncertainty of life while remembering former Goa chief minister Manohar Parrikar.

“We all have to go someday. I don’t know whether I will be here tomorrow. That time comes in the life of everyone. But before that time comes (we have to think, whether) am I able to do what I want to do? Have I made the effort?” Patekar said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also paid tribute to the actor, describing him as an intense performer whose contribution to Hindi and Marathi cinema was immense. Actor Mithun Chakraborty recalled Patekar as one of his closest friends, while John Abraham, who worked with him in Taxi No 9211, also shared a tribute.

Patekar is survived by his wife and son Malhar. His last rites are set to take place at his Pune farmhouse in Donje with state honours.