Nana Patekar Dies At 75: Akshay Kumar, Riteish Deshmukh And Others Mourn Veteran Actor’s Demise
Akshay Kumar, Riteish Deshmukh and several other celebrities mourned the demise of veteran actor Nana Patekar, remembering his extraordinary talent.
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The Hindi and Marathi film industries have been plunged into mourning following the sudden passing of legendary actor Nana Patekar. The veteran star, celebrated for his unparalleled intensity, profound honesty, and distinctive voice, passed away on Thursday morning at the age of 75 after suffering a severe cardiac arrest. According to a confirmation from his son, Malhar Patekar, the actor was found unconscious at his residence in Dona Paula, Goa, on Thursday, October 8. He was immediately rushed to Manipal Hospital.
Dr. Shekhar Salkar, Chief of the Department of Oncology at the hospital, informed the media that Patekar had suffered a cardiac arrest. Medical professionals administered CPR for 45 minutes in a desperate bid to revive him, but he remained in asystole throughout and showed no response. He was pronounced dead at 5:20 am. Authorities have completed a medico-legal case (MLC), and doctors noted that a post-mortem examination is required.
The news of his passing has sent shockwaves across the entertainment world, with tributes pouring in from devastated co-stars, filmmakers, and political figures.
Akshay Kumar, who famously shared screen space with Nana Patekar in the 2007 comedy classic ‘Welcome’ and recently collaborated with him on ‘Housefull 5’, penned a heartfelt tribute.
"Really saddened by the news of Nana ji's passing," Akshay wrote. "He was one of those rare actors who never needed to do too much to make you sit up and watch. That voice, that intensity, that honesty in every performance… he was completely his own. I feel fortunate that we got to work together in Welcome, and then again more recently in Housefull 5. There are so many memories from those sets that I'll always hold close. It's hard to believe you're gone."
Really saddened by the news of Nana ji’s passing. He was one of those rare actors who never needed to do too much to make you sit up and watch. That voice, that intensity, that honesty in every performance… he was completely his own. I feel fortunate that we got to work together in Welcome, and then again more recently in Housefull 5. There are so many memories from those sets that I’ll always hold close. Nana ji was truly one of a kind. It’s hard to believe you’re gone. Thank you for all the memories. You will be missed more than words can say. 🙏
— Akshay Kumar (@akshaykumar) October 8, 2026
Actor Riteish Deshmukh also shared a deeply emotional note, calling Nana Patekar's passing the end of an era. "Today, words have failed me; it's as if lightning has struck my heart. Nana is gone... This single sentence has left my mind numb," Riteish Deshmukh wrote. He praised Nana Patekar's boundless talent, whether playing a radiant hero, a spine-chilling villain, or bringing mischievous humour to the screen. Riteish highlighted their time together on ‘Bluffmaster’ and ‘Housefull 5’, while lamenting an unfulfilled longing to work with Patekar in a Marathi film.
आज शब्द थिजले आहेत, काळजावर जणू वीज कोसळली आहे. नाना गेले... या एका वाक्याने मन सुन्न, निःशब्द झाले आहे. तुम्ही अभिनयाचे आकाश होतात, ज्याला तुलनेची सीमा नव्हती. तुमच्या अनोख्या शैलीने रसिकांच्या हृदयात तुम्ही अढळ घर केले. कधी पडद्यावरचा तेजस्वी नायक, कधी अंगावर शहारे आणणारा खलनायक, तर कधी गंभीर चेहऱ्यामागचा खट्याळ विनोद, प्रत्येक रंग तुमच्या अभिनयात खुलून आला. पडद्यावर तुम्ही हीरो होतात, पण पडद्यामागे त्याहूनही मोठे. तुमच्या संस्थेतून वाहत राहिली माणुसकीची निरंतर धारा. 'ब्लफमास्टर' आणि 'हाउसफुल ५' मध्ये तुमच्यासोबत पडदा वाटून घेतला, हे माझे भाग्य. पण एका मराठी चित्रपटात तुमच्यासोबत काम करणे, ही अपूर्ण ओढ आयुष्यभर उरी राहील. तुमचे बोल, तुमच्या गप्पा, पाठीवरची ती कौतुकाची थाप, सोबत केलेले ते खळखळते हसू, ही माझी करी कमाई. कुटुंबीयांना, आप्तेष्टांना आणि लाखो चाहत्यांना माझी मनःपूर्वक सांत्वना. खरच आज एका युगाचा अस्त झाला आहे. भावपूर्ण श्रद्धांजली. 🙏
— Riteish Deshmukh (@Riteishd) October 8, 2026
Tributes continued to echo from across the industry. Khushbu Sundar remembered him as a "simple-hearted human" and an actor par excellence, while Neil Nitin Mukesh praised how he inspired countless aspiring actors to find their own identity. Casting director Mukesh Chhabra echoed the disbelief felt by many, simply stating he was "just shocked."
This is unbelievably shocking. I am numb. Devastated infact. An actor par excellence. A man with his own mind and beliefs. A simple hearted human. An actor par excellence. Had the privilege and honor to work with him. You will be miss Nana Bhau. 😭😭😭😭😭 #OmShanti #nanapatekar
— KhushbuSundar (@khushsundar) October 8, 2026
Here are several other tributes:
Deeply saddened by the loss of Nana Patekar Ji. An actor par excellence who carved a niche entirely his own. His power-packed performances will be remembered forever, but so will the way he inspired and gave wings to countless aspiring actors to find their own identity. A true legend of Indian cinema. Your legacy will live on sir. Om shanti 🙏🕊️
— Neil Nitin Mukesh (@NeilNMukesh) October 8, 2026
Absolutely shocking!!! They don’t make men like you anymore. So deeply rooted no matter how high you rose. Unapologetically yourself, fiercely honest and a master of your craft. There was only one Nana. There will never be another. Rest in peace Bhau... Cinema won't be the same without you.
— Suniel Shetty (@SunielVShetty) October 8, 2026
Shocking! Still cannot believe Nana Patekar ji is no more. For so many of us who came to Mumbai hoping to find a place in films, his journey gave us hope. He made you believe that your craft, your individuality and being true to who you are could be enough to make your own place. We have lost one of our finest actors. You will be deeply missed, Nana ji. Om Shanti. 🙏🏽
— manoj bajpayee (@BajpayeeManoj) October 8, 2026
आज सुबह-सुबह नाना पाटेकर जी के निधन की अत्यंत दुखद खबर सुनकर मन बहुत व्यथित है। स्टार होते हुए भी स्टारडम से कोसों दूर रहने वाले नाना जी भारतीय सिनेमा के उन महान कलाकारों में थे, जिनकी पहचान उनकी सादगी, सहजता और मिट्टी से जुड़े व्यक्तित्व से थी। मुंबई की चकाचौंध में रहते हुए भी उन्होंने अपनी जड़ों और संस्कारों को कभी नहीं छोड़ा। नाना जी से मेरा आत्मीय संबंध रहा। समय-समय पर उनसे बातचीत होती थी। उनके अभिनय, सादगी और जीवन के प्रति उनके दृष्टिकोण से मैंने बहुत कुछ सीखा। वे हमेशा स्नेह और प्रोत्साहन देते थे। उनका जाना मेरे लिए व्यक्तिगत रूप से भी एक बड़ी क्षति है। नाना पाटेकर जी का निधन भारतीय फिल्म जगत के लिए अपूरणीय क्षति है। उनकी कला, सादगी और स्मृतियाँ सदैव हमारे बीच जीवित रहेंगी। ईश्वर दिवंगत आत्मा को अपने श्रीचरणों में स्थान दें और उनके परिवार एवं सभी चाहने वालों को यह अपार दुःख सहने की शक्ति प्रदान करें। ॐ शांति। 🙏 #NanaPatekar
— Ravi Kishan (@ravikishann) October 8, 2026
Over a remarkable career spanning more than four decades, Nana Patekar left an indelible mark on Indian cinema. After making his Hindi film debut in the 1978 movie ‘Gaman’, he gained widespread recognition with ‘Salaam Bombay!’ in 1988.
He soon became a cinematic force, delivering unforgettable performances in ‘Parinda’ (which earned him the National and Filmfare Awards for Best Supporting Actor), ‘Angaar’, ‘Krantiveer’ (earning the National Award for Best Actor), ‘Agni Sakshi’, ‘Tiranga’, ‘Khamoshi’, and ‘Ab Tak Chhappan’.
Beyond acting, Nana Patekar made a highly acclaimed directorial debut with ‘Prahaar: The Final Attack’, in which he also starred as an Army officer. He was honoured with the Padma Shri in 2013 for his monumental contributions to the arts. Until his sudden passing, he remained actively working, taking on varied roles in recent projects like Vishal Bhardwaj's ‘O'Romeo’, ‘Housefull 5’, and his latest release on Prime Video, ‘Subedaar’.
As millions of admirers and colleagues mourn his departure, Nana Patekar's towering legacy of raw, unapologetic truth on the silver screen remains etched in cinema history forever.
