Veteran actor Nana Patekar died on Thursday at age 75. He suffered a cardiac arrest at his residence in Goa, was found unconscious in the early hours, and was taken to a private hospital. Doctors attempted to revive him for nearly 45 minutes before he was declared dead at about 5:20 a.m.
Dr Shekhar Salkar, Chief of the Department of Oncology at Manipal Hospital, said Patekar remained in asystole during the resuscitation attempt, which means there was no electrical activity in his heart. A medico-legal case has been registered and a post-mortem examination is expected.
The last call, eight days earlier
Tukaram Mundhe, the Food and Drug Administration Commissioner of Maharashtra, said the actor was a close friend. The two spoke just eight days before Patekar’s death, and Mundhe shared a personal detail that has since resonated widely.
Patekar’s final words to him were simply “Love you, Bala,” a detail Mundhe says will stay with him for life. He described the loss as not only that of an exceptional artist but of an extraordinary human being and a dear friend.
A career across intensity and comedy
Patekar built his reputation over more than four decades in film and theatre. He was known for a screen presence that was difficult to imitate, moving between hard-edged roles and broad mainstream comedy. A snapshot of his work:
- Powerhouse performances: Parinda, Salaam Bombay!, Krantiveer, Agneepath, Ab Tak Chhappan and The Attacks of 26/11.
- Comic charm: Welcome, where his timing and warmth reached a large family audience.
- Recent projects: Housefull 5 with Akshay Kumar, Abhishek Bachchan and Riteish Deshmukh; O’ Romeo with Shahid Kapoor and Triptii Dimri; and a cameo in Subedar.
Why the private side matters
For fans, Mundhe’s tribute widens the frame around a performer often remembered for intensity. The short phrase “Love you, Bala” is a reminder that private ease and public ferocity can share space in the same person. It also places his passing inside a personal friendship rather than just a filmography.
Patekar’s pending and recent appearances mean his work will continue to arrive on screens even after his death. For a generation that grew up on his severity and his comic instincts alike, those releases now carry the weight of farewell.
Source: Hindustan Times
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