NEW DELHI (AP) — Nana Patekar, an acclaimed Indian actor and filmmaker, died Thursday at his home in the western state of Goa. He was 75 years old.
Patekar died of a suspected cardiac arrest, the Press Trust of India news agency reported, citing a doctor at the hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Born in 1951 in the western Indian state of Maharashtra, Patekar built a career spanning nearly five decades in Hindi and Marathi-language cinema. He was known for his intense performances and roles that often featured complex or unconventional characters.
Patekar made his film debut in the 1978 Hindi film “Gaman”, and later won acclaim for “Parinda” and “Krantiveer”. Patekar became popular in mainstream Bollywood films, while also working in India’s “parallel cinema” movement, known for its emphasis on realism and social issues. He gained greater international recognition with “Salaam Bombay!” ”, by Oscar-nominated filmmaker Mira Nair.
He has won three National Film Awards, India’s highest film honors, and received the Padma Shri, one of the country’s highest civilian honors.
In 2018, during the #MeToo movement in India, a Bollywood actress accused Patekar of sexual harassment on a film set. Patekar denied the allegation. The case is one of several that have gained attention as women speak out publicly about sexual misconduct in the Indian film industry.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi mourned Patekar’s death, praising his “intensity, individuality and incomparable presence” as an actor.
“He brought remarkable versatility and creativity to every role and gave us characters that will be remembered for generations,” Modi wrote on X.
Patekar is survived by his wife and son.
Gn entert
