Veteran actor Nana Patekar died in the early hours of Thursday, October 8, 2026. The three-time National Award winner was immediately mourned across Indian cinema, with Rajinikanth, Akshay Kumar, Jr NTR, Kamal Haasan, Ram Gopal Varma and others remembering a performer who made intensity look effortless.
A voice and presence all his own
Akshay Kumar, who worked with Patekar in Welcome and Housefull 5, wrote that he was “one of those rare actors who never needed to do too much to make you sit up and watch.” He added that the voice, intensity and honesty in every performance made Patekar “completely his own.”
Rajinikanth, his co-star in Kaala, said he could not believe “my dear friend Nanaji” was gone and offered condolences to the family. Jr NTR said Patekar’s performances “never felt like acting, but life unfolding on screen.”
Ram Gopal Varma, who produced Ab Tak Chhappan and directed The Attacks of 26/11, called the loss impossible to process, describing Patekar as the “GOD of acting.”
Why the loss hits hard
Patekar’s range stretched from larger-than-life hero parts to terrifying villains and poker-faced comedy. His honours included three National Film Awards, several Filmfare Awards, the Maharashtra State Film Award, Filmfare Awards Marathi and the Padma Shri.
Kamal Haasan pointed to the off-screen record that matched the on-screen force: Patekar’s work helping farmers in Maharashtra and his volunteer service during the Kargil War. He will be cremated with full State honours.
Revisit the roles that made him iconic
- Welcome — for his deadpan comic control.
- Ab Tak Chhappan — for a taut crime-drama lead.
- Bluffmaster — for his lighter, still unpredictable turn.
- Kaala — for the face-off with Rajinikanth.
For fans who want to remember why he mattered, the performances are the best record: nothing extra, nothing false, and impossible to look away from.
Source: The Hindu