From angry young men and ruthless gangsters to comic dons and broken patriarchs, Nana Patekar made almost every shade of a character his own.
Nana Patekar has passed away in Goa after suffering a heart attack on Thursday morning.
Looking back at Nana Patekar's remarkable life and illustrious career through a collection of photographs.
Actor Nana Patekar, who passed away at 75, is remembered not just for his powerful acting but also for his deep passion for sports, including cricket and competitive shooting.
Is your favourite Nana Patekar dialogue on this list?
'I have lost not merely an exceptional artist, but an extraordinary human being and a dear friend, someone whose warmth and affection touched everyone around him. We spoke just eight days ago. I could never have imagined that it would be our last conversation.'
'Nana Patekar was an amazing actor, and human being.'
'I still can't believe this can so suddenly happen to a man, as strong as him.'
'People used to say he had a quick temper or acted out but anger only arises when things aren't organised.'
No shade or genre was a roadblock for Nana Patekar. In fact, some of his movies only age well because we associate them with his terrific presence.
Former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali expressed profound sadness over the passing of Bollywood icon Nana Patekar, with whom he shared a close friendship for over three decades, describing him as a 'dear friend, a brother' and a 'living legend'.
That voice, that intensity, that honesty in every performance he was completely his own. Nana Patekar was truly one of a kind.'
Nana Patekar's anger and intensity were as real in life as they were in his performances. He was as brutally honest as the characters he portrayed.
'...He would have hated to be ill or to be hospitalised.'
'It has been a very long time since I sat with him or met him. He was his own kind of person; he didn't mix much with anyone.'
Nana Patekar's death on Thursday prompted an outpouring of tributes from the cricket fraternity, with former India captain Ajinkya Rahane remembering the veteran actor as a "truly remarkable actor" who inspired and entertained generations.
Never a crowd pleaser in the conventional sense, Nana Patekar's knack for not mincing words, if anything his brusque, take it-or-leave it persona -- which made his eccentricity a guilty pleasure of sorts -- contributed to his eminence, observes Sukanya Verma.
Indian cricket stalwarts Virat Kohli and Sachin Tendulkar have expressed their condolences following the passing of veteran actor Nana Patekar, who died at 75 after a cardiac arrest. Both cricketers remembered Patekar's significant contributions to Indian cinema and his impactful personality.
'Very few people are fortunate to make such a quick and quiet exit from the world. He would have been miserable in a hospital.'
'Nana Patekar gave Gaman a powerful flavour of the soil, an authenticity that could not have been manufactured or imagined. There was an anger in him, a restlessness, a turmoil that belonged to the streets and the people he embodied. He was not merely playing a character; he was bringing an entire world into the film.'
Veteran actor Nana Patekar was laid to rest at his farmhouse in Donje village, Pune, late on Thursday night. Thousands, including prominent personalities and state officials, attended the funeral, which was performed with full state honours. Patekar, 75, passed away in Goa earlier on Thursday due to a suspected heart attack.
'I had narrated a script to Nana Patekar, and four days before the end, he told me that once he returned from Goa, he would take the project forward. I still can't believe he is never coming back. He was always so fit, proudly flexing his muscles and urging me to work out.'
'Nana Patekar's dedication and passion were unmatchable. I remember there was a dinner sequence and the chicken had gone stale. He ate the stale chicken instead of wasting time waiting for fresh food.'
Following the death of veteran actor Nana Patekar, a Maharashtra village, Dhondalgaon, recalls how his NAAM Foundation funded a water conservation project ten years ago, transforming it from a drought-prone area to a 'tanker-free' and economically thriving community. The project, which involved desilting barrages, boosted agriculture and dairy farming, and eliminated farmer suicides.
'People started fearing Nana Patekar's frankness. Kuchh bhi bol sakta hai yeh. He once pointed to a major respected politician's belly and asked 'Kya hai yeh?''
'There, the bodies of martyred soldiers were brought in. It was deeply distressing, as many of the bodies were in a bad state.'
'He always had a strange way of showing affection. He would shout at you first, and then somewhere between the third or fourth insult, you realised you were being hugged. He loved me and I loved him back.'
'We all have to go someday. I don't know whether I will be here tomorrow. That time comes in the life of everyone. But before that time comes (we have to think, whether) am I able to do what I want to do? Have I made the effort?'
Indian boxer Lovlina Borgohain paid tribute to veteran actor Nana Patekar, who died at 75 on Thursday in Goa due to cardiac arrest. Borgohain expressed her sadness and the unfulfilled dream of meeting him, calling his passing a huge loss for the Indian film industry.
Olympic medallist Gagan Narang has paid an emotional tribute to fellow shooter Nana Patekar, who passed away in Goa, remembering him as 'a dear friend and a truly great human being' who deeply loved the sport.
'I particularly remember the scene in Musthafa, where his insight and understanding helped me immensely in bringing a certain nuance and depth to my performance.'
He was intense on screen, equally intense on stage, and yet, from what I remember of those early days, remarkably at ease amongst ordinary people, remembers Air Commodore Nitin Sathe (retd).
The second Film Federation of India and People for Animals CineKind awards were held on October 4 in Mumbai.
It was beautiful to watch two successful actors speak about their career and personal journeys -- the highs and lows -- with such mutual admiration, notes Divya Nair.
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has permitted the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium in Raipur to host three women's international cricket matches in October. This approval comes with the condition that the stadium deposits Rs 20 lakh for groundwater recharge, addressing its previous failure to use sewage treatment plant (STP)-treated water instead of groundwater for ground maintenance.
From Shahid to Prahaar: The Untold Story of Ujjwal Nikam, these films bring real-life lawyers, landmark courtroom battles and extraordinary fights for justice to the screen.
'She was not burdened by the knowledge of her craft and the world. She just was a child till her last days.' 'When she smiled, everybody in the room would light up.'
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has urged for a global framework to combat cross-border cyber frauds and deepfakes, highlighting the need for governments, tech companies, telecom operators, and financial institutions to collaborate. Speaking at the India Mobile Congress 2026, Modi stressed that technology thrives on trust and that India is ready to share its expertise in tackling cyber threats. He also noted the rapid expansion of 5G and the success of digital governance initiatives like Direct Benefit Transfer.
'...there was a big party. The way he hugged me, I understood that deep friendship. And he understood the pain that I had gone through during my cancer.'
