October 16, 2026
Nana Patekar, one of Indian cinema’s most distinctive actors, passed away on October 8 at the age of 75. He was known for his intense performances, powerful dialogue delivery and ability to bring complex characters to life. Born Vishwanath Patekar in Murud-Janjira, Maharashtra, Patekar studied at Sir JJ School of Art, Mumbai, before pursuing a career in acting. He began his journey in theatre and made his film debut with ‘Gaman’ (1978). He starred in many Hindi and Marathi movies including ‘Parinda’, ‘Krantiveer’, ‘Agni Sakshi’, ‘Ab Tak Chhappan’ and ‘Natsamrat’. He also lent his voice to Shere Khan in the Hindi version of Disney’s ‘The Jungle Book’. Patekar won three National Film Awards and received the Padma Shri in 2013. Beyond cinema, he co-founded the Naam Foundation in 2015 to support drought-affected farmers in Maharashtra.
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