Veteran Indian actor Nana Patekar has passed away at the age of 75 after suffering a severe cardiac arrest. The National Award-winning actor was among the most respected and distinctive performers in Hindi and Marathi cinema.
The actor was found unconscious at his residence in Dona Paula, Goa. He was subsequently rushed to a hospital, but the doctors declared him dead. According to ANI,  Dr Shekhar Salkar, Chief of the Oncology Department, Manipal Hospital, has shared that despite 45 minutes of continuous CPR, the actor could not be revived.
The news of the actor’s demise has shattered the industry, with the film fraternity members and fans trying to process the loss.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also paid tribute to veteran Bollywood actor following his death, remembering his performances and contribution to Indian cinema.
 Taking to X, Modi praised the actor's distinctive screen presence and the characters he brought to life throughout his career.
"Few actors possessed the intensity, individuality and unmistakable presence that Shri Nana Patekar Ji had," he wrote.
 Born as Vishwanath Patekar in 1951 in Maharashtra, Nana Patekar’s journey into the world of acting started in the late 1970s. “Gaman” was his debut film; following it, he gave one performance after another to establish himself in the industry.
In a career spanning almost 50 years, Nana Patekar never strived to be anything more than an actor. And that is what made him an artiste, perhaps one of the finest Hindi cinema has seen. For a man like him to emerge in the 80s, challenge the notion of what a “Bollywood hero” is supposed to look like and then change the rules by which the game was played was no mean feat. Nana’s success paved the way for many actors, who did not want to take the “road more travelled” to stardom.
Some of his most loved cinematic pieces include “Parinda”, “Prahaar”, “Angaar”, “Krantiveer”, “Agni Sakshi”, “Yashwant”, “Ab Tak Chhappan”, “Apaharan”, “Welcome” and “Natsamrat”, among several others. His performances frequently moved beyond conventional hero and villain roles.
The late legendary star was honoured with the National Award thrice. In 1989, he received the National Award for Best Supporting Actor for “Parinda” and got the Best Actor title for “Krantiveer” in 1994. Then in 1996, he was again honoured with the National Award for Best Supporting Actor in “Agni Sakshi”. Further, he was honoured with the Padma Shri for his contribution to the arts in 2013.
Nana Patekar built a career spanning several decades across films, theatre and television. With powerful screen presence, intense dialogue delivery and the ability to portray complex characters with remarkable restraint, the actor made a unique place for himself in Indian cinema.

--Agencies, Mumbai