Veteran Indian actor Nana Patekar dies of cardiac arrest at 75

Veteran Indian actor Nana Patekar has died after suffering a cardiac arrest at his home in Goa, Indian media reported on Thursday. He was 75.

Doctors tried to revive him for nearly 45 minutes after he was brought to hospital, but he did not respond, hospital sources told NDTV.

His final hours

Dr Shekhar Salkar told the news agency ANI that Patekar had messaged a friend at around 2:30am to say he was not feeling well. The friend did not see the message at once because it was night, but later called and reached the actor’s house at about 4am, by which time Patekar was sweating and slowly losing consciousness. His caretaker was then sent to the hospital and came back with its ambulance, the doctor said.

A hospital emergency team that reached the house found him totally unresponsive and began cardiac massage. He was taken to hospital at about 4:20 to 4:30am. “We also tried our best, but he was brought dead,” the doctor said, adding that resuscitation lasted for 45 minutes to an hour.

The doctor said Patekar was pronounced dead at about 5:10am, though reports differed on the exact time: The Express Tribune, citing Indian media, put it at 5:20am. A medico-legal case has been registered and a post-mortem examination will be carried out, Geo News reported, citing the doctor.

Four decades on screen

Patekar was a leading figure in both Hindi and Marathi cinema over a career of more than 40 years, and also worked in theatre. He made his Bollywood debut in the 1978 film Gaman.

He was best known for intense, character-driven roles in films including:

• Parinda
• Prahaar: The Final Attack, which he also directed
• Krantiveer
• Agni Sakshi
• Khamoshi: The Musical
• Ab Tak Chhappan (2004)

His work in the early 2000s, including Shakti: The Power (2002), Apaharan (2005) and Taxi No. 9211 (2006), cemented his reputation.

His comic turn as the gangster Uday Shetty in the 2007 film Welcome became one of his most popular roles, and he returned to it in Welcome Back in 2015. He also had a supporting part in the comedy thriller Housefull 5.

Awards

Patekar won three National Film Awards during his career, The Express Tribune reported, and was awarded the Padma Shri, an Indian civilian honour, in 2013 for his contribution to cinema and the arts.

His role in the 2010 political thriller Raajneeti earned him his fifth Filmfare nomination for Best Supporting Actor. In 2016 he won the Filmfare Award for Best Actor for the Marathi film Natsamrat.

Beyond acting and directing, he sang playback in several films, including Yeshwant (1997), Wajood (1998) and Aanch (2003).

A career across the arts

Patekar was known above all for powerful performances in intense dramas and character-driven films, and moved between Hindi and Marathi cinema throughout his career. Indian film personalities and political leaders expressed grief at his death. It ends more than 40 years of work that took in acting, directing, playback singing and the stage.

This article draws on reporting by Geo News and The Express Tribune.