Actor Nana Patekar Dies At Goa Residence, Tributes Recall Five-Decade Career

Actor Nana Patekar died at his Goa residence during the early hours of October 8, 2026, sources cited by The Hindu said, after he was found unconscious and was suspected to have suffered a heart attack.

The Hindu reported that the actor died during the early hours of Thursday, October 8, 2026.

He was brought to a private hospital after being found unconscious at his apartment in Dona Paula, near Panaji, senior doctor Dr. Shekhar Salkar said.

NDTV reported that Patekar died after suffering a cardiac arrest at his home in Goa and identified him as 75.

The Hindu’s report identified him as 76, making the two reports differ on his age.

According to hospital sources cited by NDTV, doctors tried to revive Patekar for almost 45 minutes after he was brought to the hospital, but there was no response.

The actor was declared dead at 5:20 am, the hospital sources said.

Patekar’s son, Malhar Patekar, was in Pune and had left for Goa, sources said.

A sudden death in Goa

The Hindu said Patekar was suspected to have suffered a heart attack before he was taken to the private hospital.

NDTV’s account described the cause as a cardiac arrest at his Goa home.

The accounts said he was found unconscious and taken for medical treatment, but doctors were unable to revive him.

The hospital sources cited by NDTV said attempts to revive him continued for almost 45 minutes.

The actor was declared dead at 5:20 am, according to those sources.

The difference in the reported age was reflected in the two accounts, with NDTV saying Patekar was 75 and The Hindu saying he was 76.

The circumstances reported from Goa brought to an end the life and career of an actor whose work had extended across Marathi and Hindi cinema.

Patekar had also remained publicly active shortly before his death.

NDTV reported that he was last seen publicly four days ago in Goa’s Dona Paula, where he attended and addressed the Samraat Club International installation ceremony.

A video of his attendance and address at the ceremony was identified as being from Goa.

The report said the full video was available on PTI Videos.

A career built on intensity

Born on January 1, 1951, in Maharashtra, Patekar established himself as an actor known for his intensity, dialogue delivery and ability to portray complex and unconventional characters.

He made his Bollywood debut in the 1978 film Gaman.

His filmography included Natsamrat, Wajood, Parinda, Ab Tak Chhappan and Yeshwant, among other films.

Patekar was a recipient of three National Film Awards.

His work was associated with performances that relied on forceful dialogue delivery and the portrayal of characters described as complex and unconventional.

During the early 2000s, he received praise for his performances in Shakti: The Power (2002), Ab Tak Chhappan (2004), Apaharan (2005) and Taxi No 9211 (2006).

He also received widespread praise for playing the gangster Uday Shetty in the comedy Welcome (2007).

He reprised that role in the sequel Welcome Back (2015).

Patekar also played a supporting role in the comedy thriller Housefull 5.

His work in the political thriller Raajneeti (2010) earned him his fifth nomination for the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor.

In 2016, he won the Filmfare Award for Best Actor for his performance in the Marathi film Natsamrat.

He was awarded the Padma Shri in 2013 for his contribution to cinema and the arts.

Patekar was also known for playback singing in Yeshwant (1997), Wajood (1998) and Aanch (2003).

His career therefore included acting in Marathi and Hindi films, work across drama, crime, comedy and political thrillers, and playback singing.

Tributes to a distinctive screen presence

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari mourned Patekar’s death and said the two shared “very close and friendly relations”.

In a post on X, Gadkari wrote: “The news of the demise of veteran actor Nana Patekar from the Indian film world is extremely shocking and heartbreaking. My heartfelt condolences to him.”

Gadkari added: “Nana and I shared very close and friendly relations.”

He said Patekar had dominated the hearts of discerning audiences for over five decades through Marathi and Hindi cinema.

Gadkari also referred to Patekar’s distinctive style of dialogue delivery and said the actor had immortalised many characters and created a unique identity.

“His departure is a great loss to the Indian film industry,” Gadkari wrote.

Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant also mourned Patekar’s death.

Sawant remembered him as one of Indian cinema’s finest actors, a close friend and a committed social worker who had developed a deep connection with Goa.

“I am with the family in this moment of grief,” Sawant told NDTV.

Recalling his personal association with Patekar, Sawant said the actor would call him whenever he was in Goa.

“He was a good friend. Every time he would come to Goa, he would personally call me,” Sawant said.

West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari described Patekar as one of the “fiercest, most genuine and irreplaceable voices”.

“Deeply shocked and heartbroken to wake up to the devastating news of the sudden passing of legendary actor Shri Nana Patekar Ji,” Adhikari said.

“Indian Cinema has lost one of its fiercest, most genuine and irreplaceable voices,” he said.

“Nana Ji didn’t merely play roles; he breathed raw, unapologetic truth into every character,” Adhikari added.

Adhikari referred to Parinda, Krantiveer, Prahaar and Ab Tak Chhappan while remembering Patekar’s work.

“His craft set a benchmark that few could ever hope to reach,” Adhikari said.

He also recalled Patekar’s simplicity, profound humility and selfless devotion to social causes and rural communities.

“Your voice, your fiery spirit and your towering legacy will remain etched in our hearts forever,” Adhikari said.

Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar also mourned Patekar’s death.

“Deeply saddened by the passing of veteran actor Shri Nana Patekar,” Shivakumar said.

He remembered Patekar for his extraordinary talent, powerful screen presence and unforgettable performances.

Shivakumar said the actor had given Indian cinema memorable characters.

He also referred to Patekar’s compassion for farmers and commitment to serving society.

Memories from fellow actors

Actor Prakash Raj remembered his personal association with Patekar in a post on X.

“Miss you my dear Nana ji .. Will cherish the moments spent..conversations.. arguments.. the food you cooked.. knowledge you shared . thank you for coming into my life's journey,” Prakash Raj wrote.

Actor-politician Ravi Kishan said he had shared a “close bond” with Patekar.

“We would converse from time to time. From his acting, simplicity, and perspective on life, I learned a great deal,” Kishan said.

“He always offered affection and encouragement. His departure is a great personal loss for me as well,” he added.

Kishan described Patekar as an artist whose identity remained connected with simplicity, ease and a personality rooted in the soil.

He said that despite living amid Mumbai’s glamour, Patekar never left behind his roots and values.

Kishan said he had an affectionate relationship with Patekar and spoke to him from time to time.

He also said Patekar’s acting, simplicity and perspective on life had taught him a great deal.

Actor Riteish Deshmukh said Patekar’s death felt like a “truck hit”.

“I am shocked beyond words. Feels like a truck has hit me. Deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Nana Patekar ji,” Deshmukh said.

Deshmukh described Patekar as “An actor par excellence, incomparable to anyone”.

“He carved his place in people's hearts with his own unique style and brand of acting,” Deshmukh said.

“There wasn't a role or a character he couldn't perform,” he added.

Deshmukh said Patekar excelled as a larger-than-life hero, a terrifying villain and in poker-faced comedy.

He also described Patekar as a hero off screen because of his charitable work for the good of people.

Deshmukh said he had the privilege of sharing screen space with Patekar in Bluffmaster and Housefull 5.

He said working with Patekar in a Marathi film would remain an unfulfilled desire.

“My heartfelt and deepest condolences to his family, loved ones, and the millions of his well-wishers,” Deshmukh said.

“Truly, the end of an era,” he added.

Deshmukh also thanked Patekar for his wisdom, conversations, encouragement and shared laughter.

Work beyond cinema

Patekar was known beyond Indian cinema for his association with social causes, particularly efforts to support farmers and families affected by agrarian distress.

Gadkari referred to Patekar’s work in Maharashtra through the Naam Foundation in the areas of water conservation and watershed management.

He described that work as “noteworthy and significant”.

Gadkari also said the helping hand Patekar extended to the families of farmers who had died by suicide became a source of support for many families.

“Nana was not only an excellent artist-actor but also a personality sensitive towards society,” Gadkari wrote.

The same assessment was reflected in references by other leaders to Patekar’s work with farmers, rural communities and society.

Adhikari said Patekar’s selfless devotion to social causes and rural communities reflected the true greatness of his soul.

Shivakumar said the actor’s compassion for farmers and commitment to serving society reflected the depth of his character.

The social work associated with Patekar therefore formed a significant part of the tributes issued after his death.

His public identity, as reflected in those tributes, extended from celebrated film performances to work connected with rural communities and families affected by agrarian distress.

A legacy remembered through characters and voice

Patekar’s acting career was repeatedly recalled through the characters and films that established his standing in Marathi and Hindi cinema.

Gadkari said his dialogue delivery helped immortalise many characters.

Adhikari said Patekar did not merely play roles but brought raw and unapologetic truth to his characters.

Deshmukh similarly said Patekar could perform every kind of role, from a larger-than-life hero to a terrifying villain and a poker-faced comic character.

The films named in the tributes included Parinda, Krantiveer, Prahaar and Ab Tak Chhappan.

His wider filmography also included Natsamrat, Wajood, Yeshwant, Shakti: The Power, Apaharan, Taxi No 9211, Welcome, Welcome Back, Raajneeti and Housefull 5.

Patekar’s work in Natsamrat earned him the Filmfare Award for Best Actor in 2016.

His recognition also included three National Film Awards and the Padma Shri, awarded in 2013 for his contribution to cinema and the arts.

The tributes from political leaders and actors focused on his powerful screen presence, distinctive delivery, simplicity and work beyond the screen.

Sawant remembered him as a friend who personally called whenever he was in Goa.

Gadkari recalled close and friendly relations and described his departure as a major loss to Indian cinema.

Adhikari said Patekar’s voice, fiery spirit and legacy would remain in people’s hearts.

For Deshmukh, the loss marked “the end of an era”.

Patekar’s death was reported after he was found unconscious at his Goa residence, with hospital sources saying doctors could not revive him despite attempts lasting almost 45 minutes.

The reports differed on whether he was 75 or 76, but they recorded the death of an actor whose career, social work and distinctive voice drew tributes from across cinema and public life.