Nana Patekar Dies at 75: Cause of Death, Funeral and the Career That Defined Indian Cinema

Veteran actor Nana Patekar, one of Indian cinema’s most powerful and distinctive performers, died on Thursday, October 8, 2026, at his home in Goa. He was 75. Doctors said he suffered a severe cardiac arrest, and a post-mortem examination is pending.

What We Know

According to India TV, doctors gave CPR for about 45 minutes but could not revive him, and he died at 5:20 am. His son, Malhar Patekar, confirmed the news and, according to Al Jazeera, said he died of natural causes. A medico-legal case has been registered and a post-mortem will be carried out, so the final cause of death is yet to be confirmed.

Timeline

• 5:20 am, Oct 8: Declared dead after CPR
• Morning: Fans gather at Goa Medical College, Bambolim
• Later that day: Body flown to Pune; Fadnavis pays tribute at the airport
• Thursday: Last rites with state honours at Donje village

What Happens Next

The post-mortem result is the next key update. Until it is released, officials have described the death only as a suspected cardiac arrest.

Nana Patekar’s Farewell With State Honours

Fans gathered at Goa Medical College in Bambolim to pay their respects before his body was flown to Pune. ANI reported that Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis offered floral tributes at Pune airport and spoke with Patekar’s wife and son. The state government announced a funeral with full honours, and Republic World reported that the last rites were held on Thursday at his farmhouse in Donje village, Pune district. Fadnavis called him a close friend, and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde also paid his respects.

Tributes From Across India

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Nana Patekar’s versatility gave audiences characters who will be remembered for generations. Shah Rukh Khan called him a mentor, teacher, critic and friend. Anupam Kher said he would miss his friend’s warmth and extraordinary performances, while Akshay Kumar, his co-star in Welcome, praised the voice, intensity and honesty that commanded attention. Filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma was also among those who mourned him. Just days earlier, Nana Patekar had spoken at a theatre event in Goa about keeping the performing arts alive.

A Career That Spanned Five Decades

Born Vishwanath Patekar on January 1, 1951, in Murud-Janjira, Maharashtra, he came to film from the stage. His father, a textile merchant, lost his business and property, pushing the family into poverty, he recalled in a 2015 interview. As a child, a close friend of his mother began calling him Nana, and the name stuck.

He debuted in Gaman (1978) and gained wider international recognition through Mira Nair’s Salaam Bombay! Parinda (1989) then made him a household name; his portrayal of the gangster Anna won both a National Film Award and a Filmfare Award.

He won three National Film Awards in total: Best Supporting Actor for Parinda and Agni Sakshi, and Best Actor for Krantiveer. He received the Padma Shri in 2013. He was also among the few actors to win Filmfare Awards for best actor, best supporting actor and best villain.

His range was his signature. He played a man who could neither hear nor speak in Khamoshi, an army major in Prahaar, which he also directed, a shrewd politician in Raajneeti, a police encounter specialist in Ab Tak Chhappan, and the good-hearted don Uday Shetty in Welcome. Natsamrat and the plays Purush and Hamidabai Chi Kothi showed his command of Marathi theatre, and he appeared in O’Romeo this year. His rasping voice made his dialogues part of everyday conversation, and comedians still imitate him.

Beyond the Screen

In 2015, Nana Patekar and actor Makarand Anaspure founded the Naam Foundation, which works on farmer welfare and water conservation in Maharashtra. He was also known for speaking bluntly about government policies, particularly on issues affecting farmers.

The 2018 Allegation

In 2018, actor Tanushree Dutta accused Patekar of misconduct during a 2008 film shoot, an allegation that helped spark India’s #MeToo movement. He denied it. Police closed the case in 2019, saying they found insufficient evidence, and Al Jazeera reported that a Mumbai court dismissed the case last year. After his death, Dutta offered condolences to the family and said she would speak once she decided how to react, The New York Times reported.

Legacy

For audiences across South Asia, including Bangladesh, Nana Patekar’s legacy will rest on the intensity he brought to every role, whether menacing, comic or deeply human, and on a body of work that rarely relied on star glamour. He is survived by his wife and son, Malhar.

FAQ

How old was Nana Patekar?
He was 75.

What was the cause of death?
Doctors cited a severe cardiac arrest; a post-mortem will confirm the cause.

Where was the funeral held?
At his farmhouse in Donje village, Pune district, with full state honours.

How many National Film Awards did he win?
Three, for Parinda, Krantiveer and Agni Sakshi.