Veteran Indian actor Nana Patekar has died at the age of 75. His son Malhar confirmed the death, saying Patekar had been found unconscious at his home in Goa in the early hours of Thursday and was rushed to hospital.
"Despite 45 minutes of continuous CPR, he could not be revived," said Dr Shekhar Salkar of Manipal Hospital in Goa.
Patekar was one of the most recognisable faces of Indian cinema, known for his intense performances and distinct dialogue delivery. He won three National Film Awards over the course of a career spanning more than four decades, moving between Hindi and Marathi cinema while also working as a director and writer.
He made his screen debut in the 1978 film Gaman before landing a breakthrough role in Parinda in 1989. His portrayal of the volatile gangster Anna in that film earned him his first National Film Award and a Filmfare Award, making him a household name across India.
Through the 1990s, Patekar played a wide range of characters. He portrayed Major Chauhan in Prahaar, a film he also directed, and took on the villainous role of Majid Khan in Angaar. His performance as the patriotic firebrand in Tirangaa was widely noted, but it was his role as Pratap Narayan Tilak in Krantiveer that earned him the National Award for Best Actor.
He later surprised critics with a restrained performance in Khamoshi, playing a character who could neither hear nor speak. Director Prakash Jha's political drama Rajneeti in 2010 added yet another dimension to his career, with Patekar delivering what was widely regarded as a precise portrayal of an astute politician.
His three National Film Awards, for Parinda, Krantiveer and Agni Sakshi, are considered a testament to the breadth of his work. Over his career he played gangsters, soldiers, policemen, politicians, patriots, villains, comic characters and tragic figures.
Patekar was also a prominent figure in Marathi language cinema and theatre. Before achieving fame on screen, he spent years in theatre, where he developed his style of dialogue delivery and the intensity that would define his performances. Purush and Hamidabai Chi Kothi were among his most celebrated plays. He remained active in theatre throughout his professional life.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi led tributes on Thursday, praising Patekar's versatility and outspoken personality. Patekar portrayed characters that would "remain etched in the memory of generations", Modi wrote on X, adding that his death had left "a vast void in the artistic world".
Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar, who appeared alongside Patekar in the comedy film Welcome, remembered him as a rare performer whose voice, intensity and honesty could command an audience's attention.
