Veteran actor Nana Patekar passes away at 75 after cardiac arrest

Veteran actor Nana Patekar has passed away at the age of 75 following a severe cardiac arrest at his residence in Goa. He was declared dead at 5:20 AM on Thursday, October 8, after doctors at Manipal Hospital attempted to revive him with continuous CPR for 45 minutes. Dr. Shekhar Salkar, Chief of the Oncology Department at the hospital, confirmed that a medico-legal case has been registered and a post-mortem examination will be conducted.

Tributes And Memories

Actor Anupam Kher posted an emotional video from Washington, DC, where he had just finished his play, Jaane Pehchane Anjaane, when he learned the news from his director, Gajendra. Anupam recalled that Nana was a larger-than-life person with a huge heart, and noted that he had recently passed by Nana's house with a promise to visit him soon. Nana began his career with the 1978 film Gaman and went on to deliver acclaimed performances in Salaam Bombay! and Parinda, winning a National Film Award for the latter. His career also included directing the 1991 film Prahaar: The Final Attack, and recent appearances in O'Romeo and Subedaar. Before Nana's passing, Anupam had also lost his close friend Satish Kaushik, who died of a heart attack on March 9, 2023.

Context

Cardiac arrest is a sudden medical emergency where the heart stops beating unexpectedly, requiring immediate resuscitation efforts like CPR to restore blood flow. Veteran actors often build decades-long bonds through shared work in the film industry, making the loss of contemporaries deeply painful for their peers. Sudden health events in older adults highlight how quickly life can change even for individuals who appear strong and active.