Nana Patekar dies at 75 in Goa: Parinda, Krantiveer and Welcome actor cremated with state honours

Nana Patekar, the Indian actor known for Parinda, Krantiveer, Khamoshi and Welcome, has died at 75 in Goa, the BBC reported. He was found unconscious at his home in the early hours of Thursday 8 October 2026 and could not be revived after 45 minutes of CPR, Dr Shekhar Salkar of Manipal Hospital in Goa told the ANI news agency. Dr Salkar said Patekar had suffered a cardiac arrest, though it was not clear what triggered it.

His body was flown to Pune by air ambulance on Thursday evening, and he was cremated at his farm in Donje village with full state honours. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis paid his last respects there.

Nana Patekar's films: from Parinda to Welcome

Born in Maharashtra in 1951, Patekar started in Marathi theatre and made his film debut in Gaman (1978). His breakthrough was Parinda (1989), where his gangster Anna won him his first National Film Award and a Filmfare Award. He went on to win three National Film Awards in all.

The roles people remember most:

• Prahaar (1991): Major Chauhan, in a film he also directed.
• Tirangaa (1993) and Krantiveer (1994): the fiery, patriotic heroes whose dialogues were quoted in school corridors and tea stalls.
• Khamoshi (1996): a quiet turn as a man who could not hear or speak, which surprised critics who saw him only as a loud actor.
• Welcome (2007): the comedy in which he starred with Akshay Kumar.
• Rajneeti (2010): an astute politician in Prakash Jha's ensemble drama.

Film trade analyst Komal Nahta told the BBC that Patekar was outspoken and "difficult to get along with" but that directors still wanted him because he was "simply a fantastic actor".

Tributes from India's film world

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrote that Patekar's characters would "remain etched in the memory of generations". Shah Rukh Khan called him "a mentor, a teacher, a critic and a friend", a tribute also carried by India.com, and Anupam Kher described him as "one of the finest actors and human beings in Indian cinema". Akshay Kumar, his co-star in Welcome, remembered a performer whose voice and intensity could hold any audience.

His social work

Patekar was also known for social work in rural Maharashtra, which his son Malhar told reporters would continue, the BBC reported, citing the Times of India.

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