Panaji: Veteran Bollywood and Marathi actor Nana Patekar died at the age of 75 after suffering a severe cardiac arrest at his residence in Dona Paula, Goa, on Thursday morning.
Patekar was found unconscious at his home and was rushed to Manipal Hospital. Doctors attempted to revive him with continuous CPR for around 45 minutes, but he could not be saved. He was declared dead at around 5.20am, according to hospital authorities. A medico-legal case has been registered and a post-mortem examination is expected to be conducted.
Patekar’s death marks the loss of one of Indian cinema’s most distinctive actors. Known for his powerful dialogue delivery and intense performances, he had a career spanning several decades across Hindi and Marathi cinema.
National Award-winning career
Born Vishwanath Patekar, he made his Hindi film debut with Gaman in 1978. He went on to deliver acclaimed performances in films including Parinda, Krantiveer, Agni Sakshi, Khamoshi, Ab Tak Chhappan and Welcome.
He won the National Film Award for Best Actor for Krantiveer. His Marathi film credits included critically acclaimed projects such as Natsamrat and Deool. He was also known for his work as a director and theatre artiste.
Patekar appeared in the Kannada film Yaksha, released in 2010, alongside actor Loose Maada Yogi.
News of his sudden death triggered an outpouring of grief from the film fraternity and fans across the country. His son Malhar Patekar has confirmed the death, with the family expected to issue a detailed statement.
