Check out our collection of stories on Nana Patekar’s iconic performances, awards and legacy

Behind Nana Patekar’s effortless acting, which won him accolades, was a socially conscious citizen committed to helping families of farmers who died by suicide in Maharashtra’s Marathwada region.

The veteran actor had come up with the idea of providing ‘Aarogya cards’ to the wives of about 500 farmers who had died by suicide, enabling them to avail themselves of free medical treatment at the Mahatma Gandhi Hospital in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar for nearly five years, recalled an official of MGM University.

Patekar had worked in the drought-prone areas of Marathwada and extended the support through the NAAM Foundation, which he founded along with Marathi actor Makarand Anaspure in 2016. - PTI

Akshay Kumar, R. Madhavan and several other cinema personalities expressed shock at the sudden demise of veteran actor Nana Patekar. 

Akshay Kumar, who famously worked with Patekar in the 2007 comedy blockbuster “Welcome” where the veteran actor’s character of don Uday Shetty earned him an ardent fanbase, said he was deeply saddened by the actor’s passing.

Calling Patekar a “legend”, Madhavan said he was deeply moved and inspired by his performance in the 1991 critically-acclaimed movie film “Prahaar: The Final Attack”.

Kangana Ranaut said the news was particularly shocking. “Such a terrible and tragic news especially because Nana ji looked so fit and healthy. OM Shanti,” she wrote.

Actor Kiara Advani paid tribute to Patekar by sharing a photograph of him on her Instagram Stories. Bhumi Pednekar also condoled Patekar’s death by posting, “Rest in peace sir. Om Shanti. Condolences to his family and all his fans.” - PTI

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma expressed grief over the death of legendary actor Nana Patekar, and said that he was a true nationalist.

“Vishwanath Patekar was more than a versatile actor; he was a true nationalist. Of all his roles, we’ll miss most the ones where he held up a mirror to society with his plain speak, on screen and off. Voices like his come once in a generation.,” Mr. Sarma said in a social media post. 

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in a post on X, said Nana was a renowned actor, a powerful theatre artiste and a sensitive social worker whose contribution to Indian cinema was immense. “His demise is an irreparable loss to the world of art. Nana enriched Indian cinema through his exceptional acting and his social concerns.” 

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said Patekar carved a distinct niche for himself in Indian cinema through his powerful acting and impactful dialogue delivery, and that his vibrant performances across diverse roles enriched Hindi cinema. “His passing is an irreparable loss to the film and art world.” 

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav said that Patekar, through his versatile personality and outstanding contribution, carved out a special place in the hearts of countless people. The CM prayed to Lord Mahakal to grant the departed soul a place at his feet and give strength to Patekar’s family members and fans to bear the loss.

Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai in a post on X, said, “Through his extraordinary acting skills, simple personality and social concerns, he left an indelible mark in both the fields of art and social service. His death is an irreparable loss to the world of art and cinema. His contribution and memories will always remain alive among us.” 

West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari said, “Indian cinema has lost one of its fiercest, most genuine and irreplaceable voices. Nana Ji didn’t merely play roles; he breathed raw, unapologetic truth into every character. Beyond the silver screen, his simplicity, profound humility and selfless devotion to social causes and rural communities reflected the true greatness of his soul.” - PTI

Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh N. Chandrababu Naidu posted, “His remarkable performances and immense contribution to Indian cinema will be remembered for generations. My heartfelt condolences to his family, friends and countless admirers. May his soul rest in peace.”

The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Dr. Mohan Bhagwat and Sarkaryavah Dattatreya Hosabale said the Sangh joins the entire nation in deeply mourning his passing and extended condolences to his family and admirers.

“As an actor, Nana established a distinctive persona, and throughout his long artistic career, he not only exemplified excellence in acting but also inspired people to engage in positive discussions on numerous socially significant topics,” the statement said. - ANI

Today, as Indian cinema grieves the passing of Nana Patekar, Tamil audiences might remember the acclaimed actor for his role in Rajinikanth’s 2018 film Kaala, directed by Pa Ranjith. But back in 2008, he had already made an impressive outing in Tamil in an auteur’s work: in Bharathiraja’s Bommalattam.

Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, Union Coal Minister G. Kishan Reddy, Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan and several other leaders condoled the demise of Patekar.

Revanth Reddy said Patekar’s powerful performances and natural acting left an indelible mark on Hindi and Marathi cinema. The CM conveyed his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family and admirers, and prayed for the departed soul to rest in peace.

Kishan Reddy said the renowned actor’s powerful performances, distinctive voice and immense contribution to Indian cinema earned him a special place in the hearts of millions. Beyond the screen, Patekar’s compassion and commitment to social causes reflected his deep connection with society, he said in a post on ‘X’.

Pawan Kalyan, in a release, said Patekar’s performance in ‘Krantiveer’ is unforgettable. He also recalled Patekar’s memorable performance in other films, including ‘Khamoshi’, ‘Parinda’ and ‘Agni Sakshi’. He conveyed his condolences to the bereaved family members. - PTI

Actor K. Chiranjeevi said in a post, “Deeply saddened by the passing of the legendary Nana Patekar. An extraordinary actor with a powerful screen presence and artistic journey uniquely his own that left an indelible mark on Indian cinema. Beyond the screen, his compassion for farmers and his service through his Foundation reflected his commitment to helping those in need. His legacy of art and humanity will always be remembered.”

In a post on X, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said, “Deeply saddened by the passing of veteran actor Shri Nana Patekar. His remarkable performances, immense and versatile contribution to Indian cinema and compassion for farmers and the underprivileged will always be remembered.”

“My heartfelt condolences to his family, friends and admirers,” Mr. Kharge said.

In his post in Hindi on X, Rahul Gandhi said the news of Patekar’s demise is extremely heartbreaking.

“Through his acting and characters, he has left an indelible mark on Indian cinema and in the hearts of audiences,” Mr. Gandhi said.

Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said the news of Patekar’s sudden demise is extremely heartbreaking.

Congress general secretary in-charge organisation K.C. Venugopal also condoled Patekar’s demise. - PTI

Actor-director Annu Kapoor recalled his long-standing association with the late actor and the trust Patekar showed in him early in his directorial career.

“I am saddened and shocked by Nana Patekar’s sudden and untimely death. I have many personal memories with Nana Patekar, and I will never be able to forget them,” the actor told ANI. 

Kapoor and Patekar worked together on ‘Abhay’, a Hindi children’s film directed by Kapoor. Patekar played the role of Rana, a ghost, in the film, which was based on Oscar Wilde’s The Canterville Ghost. Abhay was also Kapoor’s feature film directorial debut. 

Recalling how Patekar agreed to be part of the film despite being at the peak of his career, Kapoor said the actor trusted the script and agreed to work for a much smaller fee.

“When he was at the peak of his career and was charging ₹65-70 lakh, he trusted me after reading the script when I directed the film Abhay. You will be surprised to know that he did that film for just ₹21,000.”

Kapoor also spoke about Patekar’s personality and said he found it difficult to accept that the actor was no more.

“I cannot express how deeply saddened I am. He was such a fit and full-of-life person.”- ANI

Patekar refused to be slotted as a unidimensional star — his staggering career saw him play hero, villain, character actor and even the odd comedy role, writes K.C. Vijaya Kumar

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Aam Aadmi Party’s national convenor Arvind Kejriwal condoled the death of actor Nana Patekar, describing him as a “legendary” artiste who did not merely act but “truly lived” the characters he portrayed.

Patekar’s classic hits from the 1990s had left an impact on an entire generation, he noted.

“He didn’t just act.. he truly lived his characters. His distinguished style will forever remain etched in our hearts,” the AAP leader said.

“It is so hard to believe he is no more. May his family and loved ones find strength during this difficult hour,” Mr. Kejriwal added. - PTI

Actors took to social media to condole Patekar’s demise. Rajinikanth, Akshay Kumar, Jr NTR, Farhan Akhtar, Arjun Rampal, Prakash Raj, Riteish Deshmukh, Sunny Deol, and others remembered his legacy.

Nana was a recipient of three National Film Awards, several Filmfare Awards, the Maharashtra State Film Award and Filmfare Awards Marathi. He had also received Padma Shri, the country’s fourth-highest civilian honour.

Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari said the news of Patekar’s demise was “extremely shocking and heartbreaking”, recalling his close and friendly relations with the actor.

“Through his powerful acting, Nana Patekar dominated the hearts of discerning audiences for over five decades via Marathi and Hindi cinema,” Mr. Gadkari said.

“With his distinctive style of dialogue delivery, he immortalized many characters in films and created his unique identity,” he said.

Highlighting Patekar’s social work, Mr. Gadkari said, “The work he did in the rural areas of Maharashtra in the fields of water conservation and watershed management through the ‘Naam Foundation’ is noteworthy and significant. The helping hand he extended to the families of farmers who committed suicide became a support for many families. Nana was not only an excellent artist-actor but also a personality sensitive towards society.” - PTI

In a post on X, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said, “The passing of veteran actor Nana Patekar is an irreparable loss to Indian cinema”.

“He could make audiences laugh with impeccable comic timing, yet in films like Ankush, Prahaar, and Krantiveer he brought a rawness and gravitas that made every character unforgettable. His voice, presence and ability to inhabit completely different worlds made him truly unique,” he said.

Patekar was “not merely an actor” but “an institution in himself”, Mr. Singh said, adding that his contribution to Indian cinema would continue to inspire generations. - PTI

Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar condoled the death of the veteran actor, recalling his contribution to Indian cinema and his concern for farmers and society.

In a post on ‘X’, Mr. Shivakumar described Patekar as an actor of extraordinary talent, powerful screen presence and unforgettable performances.

He also highlighted Patekar’s compassion for farmers and commitment to serving society, saying these reflected the depth of his character. - PTI

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis condoled the death of veteran actor Nana Patekar, saying that Indian cinema had lost a towering face of acting and sensitivity.

In a condolence message, Mr. Fadnavis said Patekar had made an unparalleled contribution to Marathi and Hindi cinema and given both the industries a distinct era through his powerful performances.

“Indian cinema received, in Nana, a rugged yet equally sensitive actor from the soil of Maharashtra. He was as large-hearted as he was a towering presence on screen,” Mr. Fadnavis said.

The chief minister said Patekar’s portrayal of characters, from “Krantiveer” to “Natsamrat”, reflected the depth and range of his acting, adding that his death was a major loss to the film world.

Mr. Fadnavis also recalled Patekar’s social work through Naam Foundation, which he had established along with actor Makarand Anaspure. The foundation worked for farmers and extended assistance during droughts, he said.

“Nana always remained at the forefront when it came to helping farmers and extending a helping hand during droughts. Even this year, as we face drought, he would not have stayed away, but he has suddenly left us,” Mr. Fadnavis said. - PTI

Nana Patekar’s strong public stance regarding the ban of Pakistani artists in India:

He had said that India comes first and soldiers are its biggest heroes. 

In 2016, in the wake of Uri terror attack, which resulted in the deaths of 19 Indian soldiers, the late actor waded into the debate and had said, “We (celebrities) are ordinary, fake people. Soldiers are the biggest heroes. No one can be a bigger hero than them.” 

Respecting each other’s religion and language helps to prevent clashes and fosters solidarity, the actor had said at an event in 2024. Once we start respecting each other’s religion, all our fights will end. The late actor also emphasised on the need to respect languages.

Maharashtra Cultural Affairs Minister Ashish Shelar said that the mortal remains of Nana Patekar will be cremated with full State honours. The decision was taken in view of Mr. Patekar’s immense contribution to Marathi and Hindi cinema and theatre.

Mr. Shelar said that Mr. Patekar had carved a niche for himself and had risen from humble background. “He faced many periods of struggle in his life; there were times when he had to contend with stalwarts in the field of acting. Yet, he carved out a distinct identity for himself. Whether in Hindi films, Marathi films, or Marathi theatre, his performances and characters were defined by a powerful voice and exceptional acting prowess.” 

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The actor passed away during the early hours on October 8, 2026. He was brought to a private hospital after he was found unconscious at his apartment in Dona Paula, near Goa’s Panaji region.

The body has been sent to Goa Medical College and Hospital, Bambolim, where the postmortem would be conducted to ascertain the exact cause of death, Dr. Salkar said.

Chief Minister Pramod Sawant expressed his condolences and said, “Shocked and deeply saddened to learn about the demise of veteran actor Nana Patekarji. With his remarkable journey across theatre, Hindi and Marathi cinema, his powerful performances and distinctive artistry left an indelible mark on Indian cinema.”

Nana Patekar, who was in the film industry for five decades, listened to the stories as an audience. 

He had told The Hindu, “If I start yawning during the narration, then it is understood that I won’t do the film.” The National Award-winning actor has earlier essayed the role of tough cops, writes Sayoni Sinha. Click here to read more