The sudden death of veteran actor Nana Patekar at the age of 75 has left the Indian film industry mourning. Amid the wave of tributes, Salman Khan reportedly postponed his scheduled Mumbai event on Thursday following the news of Nana’s demise.
Salman was expected to attend an event hosted by GB Realty at Taj Lands End in Bandra. However, the event was postponed as the film industry came to terms with the loss of one of Indian cinema’s most respected and versatile actors.
The timing of the news was particularly emotional for Salman, as he and Nana Patekar had shared screen space in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s much-loved 1996 film Khamoshi: The Musical.
Salman Khan and Nana Patekar’s Khamoshi Connection
Salman and Nana worked together in Khamoshi: The Musical, one of Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s early films.
In the film, Nana played Joseph, the father of Manisha Koirala’s character Annie, while Salman played Raj, Annie’s love interest. The film also featured Seema Biswas and remains remembered for its emotional story, music and performances.
Nana’s performance as Joseph showcased the depth and emotional intensity that became a defining part of his career. His presence added tremendous weight to the story, while Salman brought a different energy to the film.
Their collaboration remains one of the memorable chapters in both actors’ careers.
Nana Patekar Dies at 75
Nana Patekar passed away on Thursday, October 8, at his residence in Goa after suffering a cardiac arrest. According to the details shared in reports, doctors attempted to revive him for around 45 minutes through CPR before he was declared dead at approximately 5:20 am.
He was 75.
His death came only days after his last public appearance on October 4 at the Samraat Club International installation ceremony in Dona Paula, Goa.
The veteran actor had continued to remain active and had several projects associated with his name, making his sudden passing even more difficult for fans and colleagues to accept.
Film Industry Comes Together to Remember Nana
Following the news of his death, tributes poured in from across the entertainment industry.
Actors and filmmakers who had worked with Nana, as well as those who admired his contribution to Indian cinema, remembered him with emotional messages. Rajpal Yadav, who worked with Nana on the upcoming film Vanvaas, also shared a heartfelt tribute for his co-star.
Several major names from Indian cinema, including Rajinikanth, Kamal Haasan, Chiranjeevi, Jr NTR, Allu Arjun, Ranveer Singh, Alia Bhatt, Sanjay Dutt and Akshay Kumar, among others, paid their respects.
Cricket star Virat Kohli also mourned Nana’s death and remembered him as a true legend.
The tributes reflected the enormous impact Nana had on generations of actors, filmmakers and audiences.
A Career Built on Powerful Performances
Born Vishwanath Patekar on January 1, 1951, in Maharashtra, Nana began his journey in theatre before making his film debut with Gaman in 1978.
Over the years, he developed a reputation for playing complex, intense and memorable characters. His powerful voice, distinctive dialogue delivery and ability to completely transform himself for a role made him one of the most recognisable performers in Indian cinema.
His breakthrough performances came through films such as Parinda and Prahaar. He later appeared in acclaimed projects including Agni Sakshi, Khamoshi: The Musical, Shakti: The Power, Ab Tak Chhappan, Apaharan and Taxi No. 9211.
He was equally comfortable playing serious dramatic characters and lighter comic roles.
From Intense Drama to Comedy
For a newer generation of audiences, Nana became particularly popular for his comic performance as gangster Uday Shetty in Welcome.
His chemistry with Anil Kapoor became one of the highlights of the film, and Uday Shetty went on to become one of the most loved comic characters in Hindi cinema. Nana returned to the role in Welcome Back in 2015.
His filmography also included Raajneeti, while his Marathi film Natsamrat became one of the most celebrated performances of his later career.
Nana’s ability to move effortlessly between intense drama, action and comedy demonstrated the extraordinary range he possessed as an actor.
A Legacy That Goes Beyond Cinema
Nana Patekar’s contribution to Indian cinema was recognised with three National Film Awards and the Padma Shri for his contribution to the arts.
Apart from acting, he also explored filmmaking and music. He directed Prahaar: The Final Attack and lent his voice to songs in films including Yeshwant, W
