Veteran actor Nana Patekar’s death at the age of 75 has prompted an outpouring of tributes from political leaders across party lines, who remembered his contribution to Hindi and Marathi cinema as well
as his social work.
Patekar died at a hospital in Goa on Thursday after suffering a cardiac arrest at his residence. Doctors attempted to revive him for around 45 minutes but could not save him.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis described Patekar’s death as a “huge shock”, recalling their close friendship and the actor’s contributions to both Marathi and Hindi cinema. Fadnavis said Patekar was “as great a person off screen as he was on screen” and praised his performances in films including Krantiveer and Natsamrat.
Fadnavis also highlighted Patekar’s work through the Naam Foundation, which he established with actor Makarand Anaspure after the launch of the Jalyukta Shivar Abhiyan. He recalled how Patekar personally worked in villages and farmlands and extended support to farmers and people affected by drought.
ज्येष्ठ अभिनेते आणि माझे निकटचे मित्र नाना पाटेकर यांची अशी अकाली आणि अचानक ‘एक्झिट’ मनाला मोठा धक्का देणारी आहे. मन प्रचंड दुःखी आहे. नाना जितके पडद्यावर मोठे, तितकेच मनाने सुद्धा मोठे होते. मराठी आणि हिंदी चित्रपटसृष्टीला त्यांनी एक कालखंड दिला. त्यातून प्रामुख्याने एक राष्ट्रभक्त अशीच त्यांची प्रतिमा प्रेक्षकांना भावली. ‘क्रांतिवीर’ ते ‘नटसम्राट’ या त्यांच्या प्रवासात जो दमदार आणि कसदार अभिनयाचा पट त्यांनी उभा केला, त्याला तोड नाही. त्यामुळे अभिनेता म्हणून त्यांचे जाणे ही मोठी हानी आहे.
परखडपणा, बेधडकपणा हे स्वभावगुण त्यांचे व्यक्तिमत्त्व खुलवणारे ठरले. पण मी मुख्यमंत्री झाल्यापासून त्यांच्यातील हळवा माणूस कायम पाहत आलो आहे. आम्ही जलयुक्त शिवार अभियान हाती घेतले, तेव्हा त्याला पाठिंबा देण्यासाठी स्वतः नाना पुढे आले होते. मकरंद अनासपुरेजी आणि त्यांनी सोबत येत ‘नाम फाऊंडेशन’ची स्थापना केली आणि स्वतः शिवारात जाऊन काम केले.
शेतकऱ्यांसाठी मदत करणे असो, दुष्काळी कालखंडात मदतीचा हात पुढे करणे असो, नाना कायम अग्रणी राहिले. यंदाही आपण दुष्काळाचा सामना करीत असताना नाना कधीच मागे राहिले नसते, पण ते अचानक सोडून निघून गेले. मी त्यांना भावपूर्ण श्रद्धांजली अर्पण करतो. त्यांच्या कुटुंबियांच्या, चाहत्यांच्या दुःखात आम्ही सहभागी आहोत.
ॐ शांति 🙏— Devendra Fadnavis (@Dev_Fadnavis) October 8, 2026
Leaders Remember Patekar’s Powerful Screen Legacy
West Bengal CM Suvendu Adhikari said he was “Deeply shocked and heartbroken” by Patekar’s death, describing him as one of Indian cinema’s “fiercest, most genuine and irreplaceable voices”. Adhikari said Patekar did not merely play roles but “breathed raw, unapologetic truth into every character”, citing his performances in Parinda, Krantiveer, Prahaar and Ab Tak Chhappan.
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said Patekar had “dominated the hearts of discerning audiences for over five decades” through his work in Marathi and Hindi cinema. Gadkari also praised his distinctive dialogue delivery and said the actor had “immortalised many characters in films and created his unique identity”.
Gadkari further highlighted Patekar’s social work through the Naam Foundation, particularly its efforts in water conservation and watershed management in rural Maharashtra. He said the support extended to families of farmers who died by suicide had provided help to many families.
भारतीय चित्रपट सृष्टीतील दिग्गज अभिनेते नाना पाटेकर यांच्या निधनाचे वृत्त अतिशय धक्कादायक आणि दुःखद आहे. त्यांना माझी भावपूर्ण श्रद्धांजली. नानांचे आणि माझे अतिशय जवळचे आणि मैत्रीपूर्ण संबंध होते. आपल्या दमदार अभिनयाने पाच दशकांहून अधिक काळ नाना पाटेकर यांनी मराठी व हिंदी चित्रपटांच्या माध्यमातून रसिक प्रेक्षकांच्या मनावर अधिराज्य गाजवले. आपल्या वैशिष्ट्यपूर्ण संवाद शैलीने त्यांनी चित्रपटातील अनेक पात्रे अजरामर केली व आपली वेगळी ओळख निर्माण केली. त्यांचे जाणे ही भारतीय चित्रपटसृष्टीची मोठी हानी आहे. ‘नाम फाऊंडेशन’च्या माध्यमातून पाणी संरक्षण, संचयन क्षेत्रांत महाराष्ट्राच्या ग्रामीण भागात त्यांनी केलेले कार्य उल्लेखनीय आणि महत्त्वपूर्ण आहे. आत्महत्या केलेल्या शेतकऱ्यांच्या कुटुंबीयांसाठी त्यांनी दिलेला मदतीचा हात अनेक कुटुंबांचा आधार बनला. नाना एक उत्तम कलाकार-अभिनेते असण्याबरोबरच समाजाप्रती संवेदनशील असलेले एक व्यक्तिमत्त्व होते. ईश्वर दिवंगत आत्म्यास शांती प्रदान करो. ॐ शांती.
— Nitin Gadkari (@nitin_gadkari) October 8, 2026
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath described Patekar’s death as an “irreplaceable loss to the world of art”, remembering him as a renowned actor, powerful theatre artist and sensitive social worker. Adityanath said Patekar enriched Indian cinema through his acting and expressed his commitment to society through his social concerns.
Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said news of Patekar’s death had left him “heavy” at heart. Remembering the actor’s distinctive voice, dialogue delivery and expressions, Chouhan said Patekar could move audiences with serious roles in Krantiveer and Parinda while also making them laugh as Uday Shetty in Welcome.
Tributes Highlight Actor’s Social Commitment
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh called Patekar’s death an “irreparable loss to Indian cinema” and praised his versatility and intensity. Singh said Patekar could make audiences laugh with his comic timing while bringing “rawness and gravitas” to films such as Ankush, Prahaar and Krantiveer.
“His voice, presence and ability to inhabit completely different worlds made him truly unique,” Singh said, adding that Patekar was “not merely an actor” but “an institution in himself”.
The passing of veteran actor Nana Patekar is an irreparable loss to Indian cinema.
Few actors possessed his extraordinary versatility and intensity. He could make audiences laugh with impeccable comic timing, yet in films like Ankush, Prahaar, and Krantiveer he brought a rawness and gravitas that made every character unforgettable. His voice, presence and ability to inhabit completely different worlds made him truly unique.
Nana Patekar was not merely an actor; he was an institution in himself. His remarkable contribution to Indian cinema will continue to inspire generations.
My heartfelt condolences to his family, friends and countless admirers. May his soul rest in peace. Om Shanti!
— Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) October 8, 2026
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Ajit Pawar described Patekar as “a beautiful confluence of authentic expression in acting and sensitive social awareness”. She recalled his performances in Natsamrat, Krantiveer and Parinda and said his work for underprivileged sections of society and farmers would remain an inspiration.
Pawar also recalled Patekar’s close and affectionate relationship with her family, saying his death had left a particularly painful void.
The political leaders also remembered Patekar’s work beyond cinema, particularly his association with rural communities and farmers. Patekar’s contribution to social causes through the Naam Foundation has been widely noted alongside his long career in Marathi and Hindi cinema.
