Departures of note

Nana Patekar was one of India's most acclaimed actors, working across Hindi and Marathi cinema for more than four decades. Born Vishwanath Patekar in Murud-Janjira, Maharashtra, he trained at the Sir J.J. Institute of Applied Art before making his film debut in 1978 and building a reputation for intense, powerful performances. He won three National Film Awards and four Filmfare Awards, including Best Actor for Krantiveer and Best Supporting Actor for Parinda and Agni Sakshi, and was also recognized as a leading villain in films such as Angaar and Apaharan. His later career included the hugely popular comedy Welcome and its sequel, the acclaimed Marathi drama Natsamrat, and the political thriller Raajneeti. He received the Padma Shri in 2013 for his contribution to cinema and the arts. Patekar also served in the Territorial Army, retiring as a lieutenant colonel, and founded the Naam Foundation to aid drought-affected farmers in Maharashtra. He died of cardiac arrest in Goa on 8 October 2026 at the age of 75.