From Darr to Dhanda, Nana Patekar’s unforgettable screen legacy
“Darr sirf ek veham hai. Jo Darr gaya, samjho mar gaya,” in the film Prahaar as a no-nonsense Army officer, and “Dhande mein koi kisi ka Bhai nahin, koi kisi ka beta nahin,” portraying ruthless underworld don Anna Seth in the film Parinda, Nana Patekar transcended the conventional grammar of Hindi film acting.
Endearing himself to cinegoers with his versatility in several other films, the 75-year-old actor passed away on Thursday morning following a cardiac arrest at his home in Goa. He was later cremated in Pune with full State honours. Incidentally, Patekar also directed Prahaar.
Patekar did not confine himself to the make-believe world. He trained as a rifle shooter in his early 50s and competed at the national level. He also donned the Army uniform and spent more than two months with frontline troops during the Kargil War.
He was also a philanthropist who carried out social work through the NGO Naam Foundation and received acclaim for its work with farmers during a drought in Maharashtra.
Away from films, the actor had a very different idea of what a good life looked like. For years, his Pune farmhouse gave him a break from Mumbai and a chance to do something he genuinely enjoyed: farming.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed condolences and said the actor gave the audience characters that will be remembered for generations.
Paying tributes, Modi described Patekar as a Krantiveer (revolutionary) and said that through his film with the same name, the actor strongly attacked the evils prevalent in society. Incidentally, Patekar had played the lead role in the hugely successful film named Krantiveer.
“Few actors possessed the intensity, individuality and unmistakable presence that Shri Nana Patekar Ji had. He brought remarkable versatility and creativity to every role and gave us characters that will be remembered for generations,” Modi said in a post on social media.
The prime minister added that Patekar was also admired for his frank, forthright views and never hesitated to express what he believed.
“Shri Nana Patekar’s contribution to Hindi and Marathi cinema was immense. His passing leaves a deep void-my condolences to his family, friends and countless admirers. Om Shanti,” he said.
Later, Modi paid tributes to the actor while inaugurating the 10th edition of the India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2026 here.
“We received news in the morning that renowned actor Nana Patekar is no longer with us. He was a versatile actor who won people’s hearts through different characters,” he said.
Patekar’s life was dedicated to the glory of the tricolour, and he was never confined to any bindings, he said. The actor used to fly like a bird in the world of films. Through films, he strongly attacked the evils prevalent in society, he said. “He was such a revolutionary that he worked against social evils,” Modi said.
Patekar’s powerful dialogues and silence were equally impactful, and he always favoured taking strong action against anti-nationals, the PM said. “I pay my respects to his family, friends and admirers,” he said.
Patekar, known for his versatility and powerful screen presence, played memorable roles in several Hindi and Marathi films.
His notable Hindi movies include “Parinda”, “Prahaar: The Final Act”, “Tirangaa”, “Krantiveer” and “Khamoshi: The Musical”. Patekar received three National Film Awards, several Filmfare Awards, the Maharashtra State Film Award, and Filmfare Awards Marathi. He had also received Padma Shri, the country’s fourth-highest civilian honour.
He was born Vishwanath Patekar in Murud-Janjira, Raigad district, as the youngest of three brothers. He broke out in theatre with Vijaya Mehta’s “Hamidabai Chi Kothi”, which led to more acclaimed stage performances.
In interviews, Patekar often credited the late Smita Patil for convincing him to try movies. Patekar said he hesitated because he felt his dark complexion would lead to rejection.
The big screen debut came in 1978 with Muzaffar Ali’s “Gaman”, which had Patil and Farookh Sheikh in lead roles. It led to movies such as “Sinhaasan”, “Sinhaasan”, “Giddh”, “Aaj Ki Awaz”, “Ankush” and “Pratighaat”.
Ten years later, Mira Nair’s 1988 film “Salaam Bombay!” saw him play a local thug and drug dealer. The role in the Oscar-nominated film put him on the map and propelled him into the big league of critically acclaimed actors.
In 1990, Vidhu Vinod Chopra cast him as Anna, the central villain in his acclaimed “Parinda”. The role, still remembered for its quiet menace, won him his first of three National Awards.
He won his second National Film Award, this time as lead actor, for his role in the 1994 hit “Krantiveer” as the wayward son of a freedom fighter who transforms and fights for the rights of people with low incomes.
The roles he played were as varied as possible, be it Prakash Jha’s “Apaharan” and “Rajneeti”, Marathi film “Natsamrat”, the comedic “Welcome” and “Welcome Back”, Tamil hit “Kaala”, Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s debut “Khamoshi: The Musical”, Gulzar’s “Hu Tu Tu” or Ram Gopal Varma’s “Bhoot”.
