Veteran actor Nana Patekar died at the age of 75 on Thursday, 8 October, following a cardiac arrest at his residence in Goa.
His sudden passing prompted an outpouring of tributes from across the Indian film industry, with actors and filmmakers remembering his distinctive screen presence, uncompromising approach to acting and generosity beyond the camera.
Among those paying tribute was Shah Rukh Khan, who recalled his first meeting with Patekar while working on Raju Ban Gaya Gentleman (1992). Sharing a still from the film, Khan remembered how the veteran actor had corrected him for styling his hair like a conventional hero.
“He didn’t flatter you. He didn’t tell you what you wanted to hear. He told you what you needed to hear,” Khan wrote, capturing the directness that colleagues often associated with Patekar.
Akshay Kumar, who worked with Patekar in Welcome (2007) and Housefull 5, described him as “truly one of a kind”. In his tribute, Kumar praised the actor’s intensity and honesty, adding that he felt fortunate to have shared the screen with him. Patekar’s portrayal of the underworld don Uday Shetty in Welcome, opposite Anil Kapoor’s Majnu Bhai, remains one of his most recognisable comic performances.
Katrina Kaif, another Welcome co-star, remembered Patekar’s iwhile Paresh Rawal paid tribute to him as “insanely honest and intense”. Director Anees Bazmee, who helmed Welcome, said he was too overwhelmed by the loss to speak, describing it as an “unbearable loss” for those who knew the actor. Actor Rajpal Yadav also expressed disbelief, saying he had imagined Patekar continuing to work and entertain audiences well into his 90s.
Beyond comedy, Patekar built a career across Hindi and Marathi cinema, theatre and socially conscious drama. His performances in films such as Parinda (1989), Prahaar: The Final Attack (1991), Krantiveer (1994) and Natsamrat (2016) demonstrated a range that resisted easy categorisation. He received three National Film Awards and was honoured with the Padma Shri for his contributions.
Tributes also acknowledged Patekar’s work away from cinema. Through the Naam Foundation, established with fellow Marathi actor Makarand Anaspure in 2016, he supported drought-affected communities and families of farmers who died by suicide. His efforts included helping farmers’ widows access medical treatment.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi remembered Patekar as an actor who used his films to challenge social evils, while Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis praised his contribution to Hindi and Marathi cinema and his commitment to farmers. The actor’s last rites were carried out with full state honours.
As colleagues, admirers and audiences remember Patekar, the tributes reflect a legacy that extended beyond awards and memorable roles. He leaves behind a body of work defined by raw intensity, versatility and a lasting connection with the people and communities his art sought to represent.
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