Nana Patekar: His Life And Career In Photos

Veteran actor, filmmaker and theatre artist Nana Patekar died Thursday in Goa at 75 after suffering a cardiac arrest. Look back at a more than four-decade career that saw Patekar become one of Indian cinema’s most formidable screen presences, moving effortlessly between the raw intensity of “Parinda,” “Krantiveer” and “Ab Tak Chhappan” and the comic brilliance of “Welcome,” while also earning acclaim in Marathi cinema for “Natsamrat.” A three-time National Award winner and Padma Shri recipient, Patekar also directed films, worked extensively in theatre and devoted much of his later life to philanthropy.

‘Parinda’: A Career-Defining Performance

As Anna, a ruthless underworld don in Vidhu Vinod Chopra’s 1989 crime drama, Nana Patekar delivered one of his most chilling performances. His volatile presence, piercing gaze and sudden flashes of violence made Anna terrifyingly unpredictable, earning Patekar the National Film Award for Best Supporting Actor.

‘Tirangaa’: Patriotism With a Fierce Edge

In "Tirangaa", Nana Patekar played Inspector Shivajirao Wagle, a fearless police officer who joins forces with Brigadier Suryadev Singh, played by Raaj Kumar, to take on a dangerous terrorist threat. His forceful performance and fiery dialogue delivery made Wagle one of the film’s most memorable characters.

Sharing the Screen With a Young Shah Rukh Khan

In "Raju Ban Gaya Gentleman", Nana Patekar shared the screen with Shah Rukh Khan, who was then a relative newcomer making his mark in Hindi cinema. Patekar’s presence brought gravitas to the 1992 romantic comedy, while the film offered an early glimpse of the chemistry and contrast between an established performer and a rising star.

‘Krantiveer’: Nana Patekar at His Most Ferocious

In "Krantiveer", Nana Patekar played Pratap Narayan Tilak, a rebellious alcoholic who finds purpose in standing up against corruption and injustice. His explosive monologues, simmering anger and emotional vulnerability made the character a defining performance of his career and earned him the National Film Award for Best Actor.

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Sharing the Screen With Amitabh Bachchan in ‘Kohram’

Nana Patekar shared screen space with Amitabh Bachchan in the 1999 action thriller "Kohram", playing Inspector Dada Bhai, a tough and determined police officer. Their pairing brought together two of Hindi cinema’s most commanding performers, with Patekar matching Bachchan’s intensity in a film built around terrorism, crime and duty.

‘Ab Tak Chhappan’: The Cop Who Lived by the Gun

In "Ab Tak Chhappan", Nana Patekar played Sadhu Agashe, a tough, no-nonsense Mumbai police inspector leading an encounter squad. His restrained performance brought a lived-in intensity to the character, portraying a cop caught between the demands of the job, violence and the personal cost of his choices.

‘Taxi No. 9211’: A Clash of Two Unlikely Men

In "Taxi No. 9211", Nana Patekar played Raghav Shastri, a sharp-tongued taxi driver whose life collides with that of a wealthy young man, played by John Abraham. His witty, street-smart performance gave the 2006 thriller much of its energy, with Patekar balancing humour, aggression and emotional depth.

‘Welcome’: A Comic Turn That Won Over a New Audience

In "Welcome", Nana Patekar played Uday Shetty, a feared underworld don with a flamboyant personality and an unexpected obsession with becoming a respectable family man. His explosive comic timing, deadpan reactions and memorable chemistry with Anil Kapoor turned Uday into one of his most beloved performances.

‘The Attacks of 26/11’: A Haunting Real-Life Story

In "The Attacks of 26/11", Nana Patekar played Rakesh Maria, the former Mumbai Police Commissioner who recounts the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks through the film’s dramatized narrative. His intense, controlled performance gave the film a documentary-like weight, with Patekar carrying much of the story as the voice of the investigation and the city’s response.

‘Natsamrat’: A Theatrical Triumph

In "Natsamrat", Nana Patekar played Ganpat Belwalkar, a legendary Marathi stage actor whose retirement from theatre leaves him struggling to find his place in the world. His deeply emotional performance captured the character’s pride, loneliness and vulnerability, earning widespread acclaim and another National Film Award nomination.

‘Housefull 5’: Returning to Comedy

In "Housefull 5", Nana Patekar played Superintendent Dhagdu Hulgund, bringing his trademark deadpan humour and comic timing to the ensemble comedy. The role offered another chance to see the veteran actor embrace broad comedy, a genre in which he had already made a lasting mark with films such as Welcome.