Goa: Legendary Bollywood actor and director Vishwanath “Nana” Patekar, one of the most iconic, versatile, and fierce talents in the history of Indian cinema, died early on Thursday morning at his residence in Dona Paula, Goa. The three-time National Awards winning actor was 75. According to medical authorities, Patekar was found unconscious at his home and was immediately rushed to Manipal Hospital. Medical teams attempted continuous cardiopulmonary resuscitation for nearly 45 minutes. However, despite extensive efforts, he could not be revived and was declared dead at 5:20 am following a severe cardiac arrest.

“Despite 45 minutes of continuous CPR, he could not be revived. A medico-legal case (MLC) has been registered, and a post-mortem will be conducted,” said Dr. Shekhar Salkar, Chief of Oncology Department, Manipal Hospital.

Born on January 1, 1951 in Murud-Janjira, Maharashtra in the independent India, into a middle-class Marathi family, Patekar’s early life was marked by sharp struggle and grit. His father, Dinkar Patekar, ran a textile business, while his mother, Sanjanabai, managed the household. Long before stepping into the limelight, young Nana worked odd jobs, including painting commercial billboards and posters to fund his visual arts education at then Bombay’s  Sir JJ Institute of Applied Art. His initial artistic awakening occurred on the Marathi theatre stage, where his intense gaze, raw body language, and unmatched vocal delivery quickly set him apart from his peers. Theatre became his crucible, instilling a discipline that would later define his iconic cinematic career.

Patekar made his Hindi film debut in the 1978 drama Gaman, directed by Muzaffar Ali. Though his initial roles were modest, his screen presence was undeniable and rose to become a versatile actor in his early days itself. The turning point arrived in 1988 with Mira Nair’s Academy Award-nominated Salaam Bombay, with that critically acclaimed film, his performance caught the eye of top film producers. It was Vidhu Vinod Chopra’s 1989 crime masterpiece Parinda that catapulted Patekar to national superstardom.

Patekar as Anna Seth, the underworld don gripped by an intense fear of fire, remains one of the most terrifying, realistic, and masterly performances in Indian film history, earning him his first National Film Award for Best Supporting Actor.

Throughout the 1990s and 2000s, Nana Patekar redefined the archetype of the Indian anti-hero, cop, and common man. The most important element of Patekar’s acting career was, unlike conventional leading men of Bollywood, he relied neither on romantic tropes nor polished glamour. His signature was rapid-fire dialogue delivery, dramatic pauses, and visceral realism.

Then came Krantiveer (1994). In the Mehul Kumar-directed movie, Patekar delivered what is widely considered one of the greatest monologues in Indian cinema history as Pratap Narayan Tilak. His stirring critique of communal violence and societal apathy earned him the National Film Award for Best Actor, alongside the Filmfare Award. Starring in Prahaar: The Final Attack (1991), his directorial debut, Patekar trained extensively with the Indian Army’s Maratha Light Infantry to play Major Pratap Chauhan. The film was lauded for its brutal authenticity, disciplined directing, and sharp commentary on corruption.

Demonstrating his spectacular range, Nana Patekar played Joseph Braganza in Khamoshi: The Musical (1996), portraying a deaf-mute father fighting emotional distance from his musically gifted daughter, which earned widespread critical acclaim.

In Ab Tak Chhappan (2004), playing the legendary Inspector Sadhu Agashe, Patekar offered a chillingly realistic portrayal of an encounter specialist in Mumbai’s underworld police force. The movie became more relevant in those days as the encounter killings were regular headline in the business capital of India those days.

His performance as the aging, tragic Shakespearean actor Appasaheb Belwalkar in Natsamrat (2016) became a landmark moment in Marathi cinema (it was his homecoming) and won him immense critical adoration.

The last two decades proved another facet of Nana Gatekar’s acting acumen: his extraordinary comic timing. Patekar introduced a whole new generation to his genius through his iconic portrayal of the hot-headed don Uday Shetty in Welcome (2007) and Welcome Back (2015).

The Government of India conferred upon him the prestigious Padma Shri in 2013. He was in the news for working to address the agrarian crisis in Maharashtra.

Patekar was married to Neelakanthi Patekar. The couple had two sons, though tragedy struck early when their firstborn son died at an early age—a loss Patekar often spoke of with profound grief. He is survived by his son, Malhar Patekar, who has also been involved in film production and creative projects.

(In 2008, actor Tanushree Dutta accused Nana Patekar of sexual harassment during a film shoot. She reiterated her claims in 2018, sparking Bollywood’s #MeToo movement and leading to a police FIR. In June 2019, Mumbai police filed a B-Summary report clearing Patekar due to lack of evidence, and a Mumbai court officially dismissed the case in March 2025, after Ms Dutta filed an appeal.)