Goa: Veteran Hindi and Marathi film actor Nana Patekar passed away on Thursday following a severe cardiac arrest at his residence in Dona Paula, Goa. He was 75.
According to initial medical assessments, Patekar was discovered unconscious inside his home early on Thursday and was immediately shifted to Manipal Hospital for emergency care.
Doctors at the hospital worked to revive him for nearly 45 minutes before declaring him dead at 5:20 am.
“Despite 45 minutes of continuous CPR, he could not be revived. A medico-legal case (MLC) has been registered, and a post-mortem will be conducted,” Dr Shekhar Salkar, Chief of the Oncology Department at Manipal Hospital, told news agency ANI.
Preliminary findings point to a massive cardiac arrest as the cause of death, though family members and local authorities have not yet released a comprehensive statement detailing the exact circumstances surrounding his passing.
Acclaimed Career Spanning Decades
Born Vishwanath Patekar on January 1, 1951, in Murud-Janjira in Maharashtra’s Raigad district, he later moved to Mumbai, where he studied at the Sir J.J. Institute of Applied Art before entering the film industry.
Over a career that spanned more than four decades, Patekar became one of Indian cinema’s most respected and influential performers, working extensively in both Hindi and Marathi films.
He was particularly celebrated for his intense screen presence, powerful dialogue delivery and ability to portray complex, often morally conflicted characters.
Some of his most remembered performances include roles in Salaam Bombay! (1988), the crime drama Parinda (1989), Prahaar: The Final Attack (1991), Angaar (1992), Krantiveer (1994), Raju Ban Gaya Gentleman (1992), Tirangaa (1993), Shakti: The Power (2002), Ab Tak Chhappan (2004), Apaharan (2005) and the Marathi drama Natsamrat (2016).
Awards And Recognition
Patekar’s work earned him widespread critical acclaim and numerous honours over the years.
He received three National Film Awards, four Filmfare Awards, two Maharashtra State Film Awards and a Filmfare Award Marathi for his acting.
In 2013, the Government of India conferred on him the Padma Shri, the country’s fourth-highest civilian award, in recognition of his contribution to cinema and the arts.
Family And Personal Life
Patekar married Neelkanti Patekar, a former bank officer who also worked as an actress and producer, in 1978. The couple had two sons, Durvasa and Malhar. Their elder son, Durvasa, died at the age of about two and a half due to illness.
Though Nana Patekar and his wife lived separately for many years owing to personal differences, they remained legally married until his death.