Summary of this article
Legendary actor Nana Patekar passed away in Goa at age 75.
He experienced financial hardships at a young age and remained modest throughout his life.
The actor was awarded Padma Shri in 2013.
Renowned actor Nana Patekar, known for his powerful screen presence, distinctive dialogue delivery, and versatility, passed away in the early hours of Thursday (October 8), at his residence in Dona Paula, Goa. Patekar is suspected to have suffered a heart attack.
Senior doctor Dr. Shekhar Salkar stated that Patekar fell unconscious while at home in Goa. He was brought to a private hospital; however, despite receiving CPR for 45 minutes, doctors could not revive him, declaring him dead at 5:10 am, as per PTI report. A friend of Patekar said the actor messaged him at 3:30 am, saying he felt unwell. The friend rushed to the actor’s apartment, where Patekar lived with a caretaker. An ambulance was sent from a nearby medical facility, and treatment began en route.
Patekar was born on January 1, 1951, in Murud-Janjira, Maharashtra. He was named Vishwanath Patekar. His family faced severe financial distress after being cheated by a relative. When he was 13, he had to start working to earn money. So he worked after school, painting posters and zebra crossings, and would earn Rs 35 a month and a meal. He often mentioned that he learned different emotions on account of these childhood struggles and that it enabled him to understand human hardships. It reflected in his acting career and his life, too.
Patekar’s cinematic legacy spanned around five decades in Hindi and Marathi films. He debuted in Hindi movies with Gaman in 1978, but his breakthrough came in 1989 with Parinda, for which he won the National Film Award for Best Supporting Actor. Over his long career span, he acted in several notable films, including Ankush, Angaar, Prahaar: The Final Act, Tirangaa, Krantiveer, Khamoshi: The Musical, Welcome, among others.
While preparing to play an Army Commando in his 1991 film “Prahaar: The Final Act”, he formally trained with the Territorial Army for three years. He trained with the Maratha Light Infantry in the late 1980s.
Patekar even served with the Indian Army’s Quick Reaction Team during the 1999 Kargil War. When conflict broke out in 1999 between India and Pakistan, Patekar paused his film projects and approached then Defence Minister George Fernandes seeking permission to serve in the Army.
After getting clearance, he spent 60 days alongside soldiers in high-risk zones, including Srinagar, Leh, and Dras.
He remained active in movies in later years. He appeared in Housefull 5 (2025) with Akshay Kumar, Abhishek Bachchan, and Riteish Deshmukh, and played a police officer in O' Romeo (2026).
In December 2024, Patekar appeared on Kaun Banega Crorepati alongside the cast and director of Vanvas—including Utkarsh Sharma, Simrat Kaur, and Anil Sharma. He took the hot seat to raise awareness and funds to support farmers through his Naam Foundation.
The foundation provides financial support to farmers’ widows and family members. Its projects range from water conservation, farming, health, and education to disaster relief, mass marriages, and village welfare.
He won three National Film Awards, multiple Filmfare Awards, and the Maharashtra State Film Award. He was also awarded the Padma Shri, which is India's fourth-highest civilian honour, for his contribution.
Despite his successful acting stints, he followed a modest lifestyle. He continued living in a 750-square-foot 1 BHK apartment in Andheri, Mumbai, purchased years ago for Rs 1.1 lakh. Besides this, he owned a 27-acre farmhouse in Pune, where he cultivated wheat and paddy and shared the proceeds with local labourers.
