Veteran actor Nana Patekar’s final public appearance came in Goa on October 4, just four days before his death, when he addressed a gathering at the installation ceremony of Samraat Club International in Dona Paula.
The actor, who was in Goa for the event, spoke about former Goa chief minister Manohar Parrikar, praising his political style and recalling his approach to public life. Patekar also reflected on mortality and the need to make meaningful use of one’s time, telling the audience in Marathi: “We all have to go someday. I don’t know whether I will be here tomorrow or not.”
His remarks have since drawn renewed attention following his sudden death on Thursday morning. Videos from the event show Patekar in a white kurta and white gamcha as he addressed the gathering. He also interacted with local performers and participated in the celebrations.
‘Am I able to do what I want to do?’
Patekar, who was 75, told those gathered that death was an inevitable part of life and said people should ask themselves whether they were making the effort to do what they wanted.
“We all have to go someday. I don’t know whether I will be here tomorrow or not. Every person’s life will eventually reach that point. But before that happens, I have to ask myself: am I able to do what I want to do?” he said.
The remarks, made at the Samraat Club International State-I installation ceremony at Taj Cidade de Goa, have taken on added poignancy following his death.
Rajashree A. Khandeparkar was installed as the State President for 2026-27 at the ceremony, along with her Board of Directors.
Patekar also spoke warmly about former Goa chief minister Manohar Parrikar and praised his style of working as a politician.
Actor dies after cardiac arrest
Patekar died on Thursday morning after suffering a severe cardiac arrest at his residence in Dona Paula, Goa. He was found unconscious and was taken to Manipal Hospital, where doctors attempted to revive him.
Dr Shekhar Salkar, Chief of the Oncology Department at Manipal Hospital, said that doctors performed continuous CPR for 45 minutes but could not revive the actor.
“A medico-legal case (MLC) has been registered, and a post-mortem will be conducted,” Dr Salkar said.
Patekar was declared dead at around 5.20 am, according to reports from the hospital. The specific trigger behind the cardiac arrest was not immediately known.
A video of his October 4 appearance surfaced online following news of his death, showing the actor speaking at the Goa event just days before he died.
A career spanning Hindi and Marathi cinema
Born Vishwanath Patekar on January 1, 1951, in Maharashtra, Nana Patekar built a career spanning nearly five decades across Hindi and Marathi cinema.
He made his Hindi film debut with Gaman in 1978 and went on to establish himself through performances marked by an intense screen presence and distinctive dialogue delivery.
His breakthrough came with films including Salaam Bombay! and Parinda. He subsequently delivered acclaimed performances in Tirangaa, Krantiveer, Khamoshi: The Musical, Yeshwant, Ab Tak Chhappan, Apaharan and Raajneeti, among many others.
Patekar was also closely associated with Marathi cinema and theatre. His work in Natsamrat became one of his notable later performances, while he continued to maintain his connection with the stage.
He also turned filmmaker, making his directorial debut with Prahaar: The Final Attack.
From intense roles to Uday Shetty
Although Patekar became synonymous with serious and aggressive characters, he also displayed a strong comic side.
His portrayal of Uday Shetty in the Welcome franchise introduced him to a different generation of audiences. The character’s distinctive mannerisms and dialogue delivery subsequently became popular as meme material on social media.
His filmography also included acclaimed performances in films such as Parinda, Krantiveer, Agni Sakshi, Khamoshi: The Musical, Ab Tak Chhappan, Apaharan and Raajneeti.
His last screen appearance was in O’Romeo, alongside Shahid Kapoor, Triptii Dimri, Avinash Tiwary and Disha Patani.
National honours and social work
Patekar received the Padma Shri in 2013 for his contribution to cinema and the arts. He also won three National Film Awards during his career, besides several other major honours.
Away from cinema, he was known for his involvement in social causes and support for farmers. He was associated with initiatives aimed at helping rural communities and families affected by hardship.
He had also met families who suffered losses during Operation Sindoor, when Pakistani shelling affected areas along the border, and his NGO helped facilitate financial assistance for affected families.
Patekar’s death brings to an end a career in which he moved between theatre, Marathi and Hindi cinema, serious drama and comedy, while developing a distinctive style that made his performances instantly recognisable.