Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday paid tribute to veteran actor Nana Patekar following his death in Goa, remembering him for his versatility, forthright views and portrayal of social realities.
Calling Patekar a “true nationalist”, Sarma said the actor’s candid approach both in his films and public life had made him a distinctive voice. “Voices like his come once in a generation,” the Chief Minister wrote on X, ending his message with “Om Shanti”.
Patekar, whose real name was Vishwanath Patekar, died at the age of 75 after suffering a severe cardiac arrest. He was found unconscious at his residence in Dona Paula, Goa, in the early hours of Thursday and was taken to Manipal Hospital.
Doctors carried out continuous CPR for around 45 minutes but were unable to revive him. He was declared dead at about 5.20 am, according to Dr Shekhar Salkar, chief of the hospital’s oncology department.
“A medico-legal case (MLC) has been registered, and a post-mortem will be conducted,” Dr Salkar told news agency ANI. The preliminary medical assessment attributed the death to severe cardiac arrest, while further details were expected after the post-mortem.
Patekar had established himself as one of the leading character actors in Hindi and Marathi cinema over a career spanning several decades. He started in Marathi theatre and cinema before gaining wider recognition in Hindi films, where his intense performances and distinctive dialogue delivery became widely recognised.
His acclaimed work included Parinda, Krantiveer, Ab Tak Chhappan and Welcome, with his filmography spanning drama, action and comedy.
The actor received several major honours during his career, including National Film Awards and Filmfare Awards, and remained a prominent figure in Indian cinema for decades.
