Veteran actor Nana Patekar, one of the most distinctive and respected performers in Hindi and Marathi cinema, has passed away at the age of 75. The actor died at 5:20 am on Thursday, October 8, 2026, after suffering a cardiac arrest at his residence in Goa. The news has sent shockwaves through the Indian film industry, bringing an end to the journey of an actor whose powerful screen presence, unmistakable voice and intensely natural performances made him one of the most recognisable names in Indian cinema.
According to Dr Shekhar Salkar, Chief of the Oncology Department at Manipal Hospital, Patekar suffered a severe cardiac arrest at home and was subsequently taken to the hospital. Doctors attempted to revive him with cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) for around 45 minutes, but the efforts were unsuccessful. Dr Salkar confirmed that the actor remained in asystole during the resuscitation attempts. A medico-legal case has been registered, and a post-mortem examination is pending.
Born Vishwanath Patekar, Nana Patekar began his film career with the 1978 film Gaman. Over the following decades, he established himself as an actor capable of bringing extraordinary intensity and authenticity to an incredibly wide range of characters. From Parinda, Prahaar and Angaar to Krantiveer, Tiranga, Khamoshi: The Musical and Ab Tak Chhappan, his performances repeatedly demonstrated an ability to command the screen without relying on conventional star mannerisms. He was also a celebrated figure in Marathi cinema, with films such as Natsamrat adding another important chapter to his career.
Patekar's contribution to cinema was recognised with some of India's most prestigious honours. He was a recipient of three National Film Awards and was awarded the Padma Shri in 2013 for his contribution to the arts. His career was marked by performances that often carried a rawness and emotional complexity that made even his most difficult characters feel deeply human. Whether playing a soldier, police officer, gangster, father or troubled ordinary man, Patekar had a rare ability to make audiences listen whenever he appeared on screen.
Even in the later years of his career, Nana Patekar remained active across Hindi and Marathi cinema. He recently appeared in Housefull 5, alongside Akshay Kumar, Abhishek Bachchan, Riteish Deshmukh and a large ensemble cast. He also featured as a police officer in Vishal Bhardwaj's O'Romeo, starring Shahid Kapoor and Triptii Dimri. Additionally, he had a cameo in Subedar, which features Anil Kapoor and Radhika Madan. His continued presence on screen was a reminder of the remarkable longevity of a career that had already spanned nearly five decades.
What made Nana Patekar truly special was the fact that he never seemed interested in fitting neatly into a conventional idea of a Hindi film star. His performances could be explosive, restrained, vulnerable, intimidating or heartbreaking, sometimes within the same film. He brought a lived-in quality to his characters, making them feel less like performances and more like people pulled directly from the world around us. That quality made his work endure across generations and allowed audiences to discover his films long after their original releases.
With his passing, Indian cinema has lost an actor whose contribution cannot be reduced to a list of awards or box-office successes. Nana Patekar leaves behind a body of work that includes some of the most memorable performances in Hindi and Marathi cinema. From his early years in films such as Gaman and Parinda to later landmarks such as Krantiveer, Khamoshi, Ab Tak Chhappan and Natsamrat, he consistently brought an uncompromising intensity to his craft. At 75, Nana Patekar's journey has come to an end, but the characters he created—and the extraordinary voice with which he brought them to life—will remain part of Indian cinema's collective memory.