GOA – Veteran Indian actor Nana Patekar has died at the age of 75 after suffering a cardiac arrest at his residence in Dona Paula, Goa, according to Indian media reports.
Patekar was found unconscious after complaining of chest pain, following which a medical team was called to his residence. Doctors attempted to revive him with cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) before he was taken to Manipal Hospital in Goa.
The head of the oncology department at the hospital, Dr Shekhar Salkar, told news agency ANI that doctors continued CPR for about 45 minutes, but the actor did not respond. Patekar was declared dead at 5:20am on Thursday. A medico-legal case has been registered and an autopsy will be conducted, according to Dr Salkar.
A career spanning nearly five decades
Born Vishwanath Patekar on January 1, 1951, the actor built a career spanning Hindi and Marathi cinema, with additional appearances in Tamil and Kannada films.
Patekar began his film career with the 1978 film Gaman. He later appeared in Mira Nair’s Salaam Bombay!, which received an Academy Award nomination.
His performances earned him three National Film Awards. He won Best Supporting Actor for Parinda and Agni Sakshi, while his performance in Krantiveer earned him the National Award for Best Actor. In recognition of his contribution to Indian cinema, Patekar was awarded the Padma Shri, India’s fourth-highest civilian honour, in 2013.
Popularity with a new generation
Patekar remained a familiar face to successive generations of Indian film audiences and gained renewed popularity among younger viewers for his portrayal of gangster Uday Shetty in the 2007 comedy film Welcome.
Away from acting, Patekar had initially worked as a commercial artist before pursuing a career in theatre and cinema. During his early years, he reportedly painted film posters and zebra crossings to support himself.
His death has prompted an outpouring of grief among fans and members of the Indian film industry, while authorities complete the medico-legal formalities and autopsy.
