What would Indian cinema look like without the unmistakable voice, intensity and screen presence of Nana Patekar?
Veteran actor Nana Patekar, one of the most respected and distinctive performers in Hindi and Marathi cinema, passed away at the age of 75 on Thursday after suffering a cardiac arrest at his residence in Goa.
According to Dr Shekhar Salkar, Chief of the Department of Oncology at Manipal Hospital, Patekar suffered a cardiac arrest at his residence and was brought to the hospital. Doctors administered CPR for around 45 minutes, but he could not be revived. A medico-legal case has been completed and a post-mortem examination is required.
The actor’s death marks the end of a career spanning more than four decades, during which he established a rare identity of his own. He was not defined by conventional glamour or a single genre. Instead, it was his voice, expressions, body language and ability to bring extraordinary intensity to even the simplest of lines that made him instantly recognisable.
Born Vishwanath Patekar in Maharashtra, Nana Patekar made his Hindi film debut with Gaman in 1978. Over the years, he went on to become one of Indian cinema’s most acclaimed performers, taking on characters that were often complex, unconventional and emotionally demanding.
His performance in Parinda earned him the National Film Award for Best Supporting Actor, while Krantiveer brought him the National Film Award for Best Actor. He subsequently delivered memorable performances in films including Agni Sakshi, Khamoshi: The Musical, Yeshwant, Ab Tak Chhappan, Apaharan and Raajneeti.
Patekar’s association with cinema, however, went beyond Hindi films. He remained closely connected with Marathi cinema and theatre and also explored filmmaking. He made his directorial debut with Prahaar: The Final Attack in 1991, further showcasing his interest in different facets of the medium.
For an actor so closely associated with intense roles, Patekar also demonstrated an equally effective comic side. His portrayal of Uday Shetty in Welcome introduced his work to a younger generation and turned the character into one of the most memorable comic performances of his later career.
His filmography reflected that range. From the gritty world of Parinda and Ab Tak Chhappan to the humour of Welcome, Patekar repeatedly moved between serious drama, action, social themes and comedy without allowing himself to be confined to one screen persona.
His contribution to cinema was recognised with several major honours, including three National Film Awards and four Filmfare Awards. In 2013, he was conferred the Padma Shri for his contribution to cinema and the arts.
Away from the screen, Patekar was associated with social causes and had been involved in efforts to support farmers and families affected by agrarian distress. His public life therefore extended beyond films, particularly through his connection with rural Maharashtra and social initiatives.
Yet, it was cinema where Nana Patekar left his most enduring imprint.
He could play a volatile protagonist, a formidable antagonist, a police officer, a troubled individual or a comic character and make each role unmistakably his own. His performances rarely depended on spectacle. Often, a pause, a look, a change in his voice or a single line of dialogue was enough to command an entire scene.
That was the Nana Patekar effect.
With his passing, Indian cinema loses an actor whose presence could neither be imitated nor easily categorised. His body of work, stretching across Hindi and Marathi cinema and across generations of audiences, remains a testament to a performer who brought his own temperament, voice and intensity to every character.
Nana Patekar may have played countless characters on screen, but his greatest legacy will perhaps be the one thing none of them could completely hide — the unmistakable presence of Nana Patekar himself.
