Nana Patekar: nine iconic roles that defined a legendary career

Veteran Indian actor Nana Patekar, celebrated for his searing screen presence, thunderous dialogue delivery and remarkable versatility, has died at the age of 75 after suffering a cardiac arrest at his home in Goa in the early hours of Thursday, leaving a profound void in Indian cinema.

Patekar carved out a distinctive niche across Hindi, Marathi and Tamil films, conveying rage, vulnerability, humour and anguish with rare authenticity. He rose to prominence as the psychologically tormented gangster Anna Sheth in Parinda (1989), a performance that earned him the National Film Award for Best Supporting Actor, and he later played the fiery social rebel Pratap Tilak in Krantiveer (1994). Moreover, he delivered deeply moving turns as Joseph in Khamoshi: The Musical (1996) and as the encounter specialist Sadhu Agashe in Ab Tak Chhappan (2004), while the eccentric gangster Uday Shetty in the blockbuster comedy Welcome (2007) revealed his comic gifts.

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His later work further consolidated his reputation, most notably as the ageing theatre legend Ganpatrao Ramchandra Belwalkar in the Marathi drama Natsamrat (2016), in which he portrayed an artist grappling with loneliness and familial neglect. He also played the ruthless Hari Dada in the Rajinikanth-starrer Kaala (2018), the scientist Dr Balram Bhargava in The Vaccine War (2023), and Arvind in The Signature (2024). Beyond the screen, Patekar was known for his work with the Naam Foundation, through which he assisted drought-stricken farmers in Maharashtra. His unmistakable voice, uncompromising performances, and enduring characters will retain a lasting place in the annals of Indian cinema.