Union Minister Nitin Gadkari has mourned the death of veteran actor and filmmaker Nana Patekar, saying the two shared “very close and friendly relations”.
Indian Cinema has lost one of its fiercest, most genuine and irreplaceable voices. “The news of the demise of veteran actor Nana Patekar from the Indian film world is extremely shocking and heartbreaking. My heartfelt condolences to him. Nana and I shared very close and friendly relations. Through his powerful acting, Nana Patekar dominated the hearts of discerning audiences for over five decades via Marathi and Hindi cinema. With his distinctive style of dialogue delivery, he immortalized many characters in films and created his unique identity. His departure is a great loss to the Indian film industry,” Gadkari wrote in a post on X. “The helping hand he extended to the families of farmers who committed suicide became a support for many families. Nana was not only an excellent artist-actor but also a personality sensitive towards society. May God grant peace to the departed soul. Om Shanti,” he added. “Deeply shocked and heartbroken to wake up to the devastating news of the sudden passing of legendary actor Shri Nana Patekar Ji. “Deeply saddened by the passing of veteran actor Shri Nana Patekar. With his extraordinary talent, powerful screen presence and unforgettable performances, he gave Indian cinema some truly memorable characters.
Born on January 1, 1951, in Maharashtra, Nana Patekar established himself as an actor known for his intensity, dialogue delivery, and ability to portray complex and unconventional characters. A recipient of three National Film Awards, he was known for his work in films such as Natsamrat, Wajood, Parinda, Ab Tak Chhappan, Welcome, Taxi No 9211, Housefull 5, and Yeshwant, among others.
Nana Ji didn’t merely play roles; he breathed raw, unapologetic truth into every character,” he said. Mentioning the actor’s top movies like ‘Parinda’, ‘Krantiveer’, ‘Prahaar’, and ‘Ab Tak Chappan’, Adhikari said, “His craft set a benchmark that few could ever hope to reach. Beyond the screen, his compassion for farmers and commitment to serving society reflected the depth of his character,” he said.
