Nana Patekar collapsed in his Goa home after a sudden cardiac arrest, and the team at the local hospital fought for almost 45 minutes before the life support went silent. The 75‑year‑old, whose career spanned gritty dramas and high‑octane comedies, was declared dead at 5:20 a.m., a time that feels oddly indifferent to the drama of his life.
Akshay Kumar took to X to pay his respects, writing, "Really saddened by the news of Nana ji’s passing. He was one of those rare actors who never needed to do too much to make you sit up and watch." He recalled their shared moments on the sets of "Welcome" and the recent "Housefull 5," calling Nana a one‑of‑a‑kind performer whose authenticity commanded the screen.
Riteish Deshmukh echoed a similar sentiment, describing Nana as an actor par excellence who could morph into a larger‑than‑life hero or a poker‑face comic with equal ease. He mused that their time together in "Bluffmaster" and "Housefull 5" had left an unfulfilled dream of a Marathi collaboration, hinting at the breadth of Nana’s talent.
The ripple of grief spread beyond the Hindi film circle. Rajinikanth sent a brief message, “Nana ji’s heart, his style—remains in the film world.” Anurag Kashyap, who once worked with him on a short, remarked that Nana's intensity was a living lesson for every actor, and that his presence on set could silence a whole room.
Patekar’s filmography, from the political thriller "Sarkar" to the razor‑sharp satire "A Wednesday," showcases a range that few can match. Even as the industry mourns, his legacy lives on in every gritty performance that follows his lead—proof that a real actor’s soul can outlive the screen.