Nana Patekar (1951–2026): the actor who made intensity his own

His death

Nana Patekar died at his home in Goa on 8 October 2026. He was 75. The Press Trust of India reported that he died of a suspected cardiac arrest. His son, Malhar Patekar, confirmed the death and said his father died of natural causes. Officials said a medico-legal case had been registered and a post-mortem examination would be conducted.

Tributes came from across public life. Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised his "intensity, individuality and unmistakable presence", and wrote that he brought remarkable versatility and creativity to every role. Patekar is survived by his wife, from whom he was separated, and his son.

Early life and the stage

He was born Vishwanath Patekar on 1 January 1951 in Murud-Janjira, in present-day Maharashtra, into a Marathi family. "Nana" was a nickname that became his screen name.

His father loved plays and encouraged him to watch them, and theatre came before cinema. Vijaya Mehta, one of Marathi theatre's leading directors, directed his first play.

From Gaman to Krantiveer

Patekar made his film debut in the 1978 Hindi film Gaman. Parinda (1989) brought him critical acclaim and his first National Film Award, for Best Supporting Actor. His role in Mira Nair's Oscar-nominated Salaam Bombay! brought him wider international recognition.

In 1991 he directed his first film, Prahaar: The Final Attack, and starred in it. Krantiveer (1994) won him the National Film Award for Best Actor, and Agni Sakshi (1996) his second award for Best Supporting Actor. He also won four Filmfare Awards.

A rare range

He was known for intense performances and for roles that often portrayed complex or unconventional characters. Over the years he moved between action and crime films such as Tirangaa, Angaar and Apaharan, the political drama Raajneeti, comedies such as Raju Ban Gaya Gentleman and the Welcome films, and the Marathi film Natsamrat. He shared the screen with actors such as Amitabh Bachchan and Shah Rukh Khan.

The Government of India awarded him the Padma Shri, one of the country's highest civilian honours, in 2013.

The Naam Foundation

In September 2015 Patekar founded the Naam Foundation with the Marathi actor Makarand Anaspure. The foundation works to support drought-affected farmers in Maharashtra, and it became the best known of his public causes.

Final years

He kept working until the end. Recent work included the drama Vanvaas (2024), the comedy Housefull 5 (2025) and Subedaar, with Anil Kapoor, which was released on Prime Video in March 2026. His final big-screen appearance was in Vishal Bhardwaj's O' Romeo. Days before his death, he appeared at a theatre event in Goa.

The 2018 allegation

In 2018, as the #MeToo movement spread, an Indian actress accused Patekar of harassment. He denied the allegation, and a court in Mumbai dismissed the case in 2025, Al Jazeera reported.