By Team INVC | INVC NEWS
Published: October 8, 2026 | 08 : 45 AM IST
PANAJI, India | October 8, 2026 — Nana Patekar dies at 75, leaving behind a film career that connected the menace of Parinda, the anger of Krantiveer, and the comic unpredictability of Welcome. The veteran Hindi and Marathi actor died early Thursday in Goa after suffering a severe cardiac arrest, according to a doctor’s statement reported by ANI.
His son, Malhar Patekar, separately confirmed the death to The Indian Express. The news closes a career spanning nearly five decades, during which Patekar built an unmistakable screen identity across drama, crime thrillers, and comedy.
Doctor Reports 45-Minute Resuscitation Attempt
Dr. Shekhar Salkar, chief of the oncology department at Manipal Hospital in Goa, told ANI that Patekar suffered a severe cardiac arrest at his residence.
According to the reported medical statement, efforts to revive him included approximately 45 minutes of continuous cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Doctors declared him dead at 5:20 a.m.
Salkar also said authorities had registered a medico-legal case and would conduct a postmortem examination. Those details describe the reported medical and procedural response; this report does not speculate about the findings of an examination that has yet to take place.
Meanwhile, Malhar told The Indian Express that he was traveling from Pune to Goa and would provide a detailed statement.
A Career That Began With Gaman
Born Vishwanath Patekar on January 1, 1951, in Murud-Janjira, Maharashtra, he entered Hindi films with Gaman in 1978.
His subsequent work included Ankush and Mira Nair’s Salaam Bombay! However, Parinda gave his career a particularly significant turning point. His performance in the 1989 crime drama earned him the National Film Award for Best Supporting Actor.
The film also provides a useful starting point for viewers revisiting his work. It captures one part of his range: a threatening presence capable of dominating a scene without relying on a conventional heroic role.
Three National Awards Recognized Different Performances
Patekar won three National Film Awards across Parinda, Krantiveer, and Agni Sakshi.
Krantiveer brought him the Best Actor award, while Parinda and Agni Sakshi earned him supporting-actor honors. India also awarded him the Padma Shri in 2013.
Together, these honors recognized performances across different character types. For readers exploring his career, the three films offer a more informative introduction than a simple list of awards.
Welcome Revealed Another Side of His Screen Presence
For another generation of viewers, Patekar’s name immediately recalled Uday Shetty in Welcome.
The role placed his familiar intensity inside a comedy. Instead of abandoning that screen personality, the film used it to create humor through frustration, timing, and unexpected reactions. He later returned to the character in Welcome Back.
That contrast helps explain the breadth of his appeal. Audiences could encounter him through a serious drama or a popular comedy and still recognize a distinctive performer.
Prahaar and Natsamrat Expanded the Picture
Patekar also directed, wrote, and acted in Prahaar: The Final Attack, released in 1991. The film marked an important chapter beyond his acting assignments.
Meanwhile, his Marathi work remained central to his career. In Natsamrat, he played a retired stage actor confronting family conflict and loss.
Other notable credits included Khamoshi: The Musical, Ab Tak Chhappan, Apaharan, and Raajneeti. These films show why a retrospective of his work needs more than one genre or one celebrated character.
How to Revisit His Film Legacy
Viewers seeking an introduction can begin with Parinda, follow it with Krantiveer, and then turn to Welcome. Adding Prahaar and Natsamrat brings his directing work and Marathi performances into the picture.
This is an editorial viewing suggestion, rather than a ranking. Each selection highlights a different aspect of his career and gives friends or family a concrete starting point for discussing his work.
As further information emerges, updates should distinguish the family’s statements, the doctor’s account, and any subsequent examination findings. For now, the confirmed news of his death stands alongside a body of performances that audiences can continue to revisit.
