Nana Patekar

One of Indian cinema’s most fearless voices, Nana Patekar (1951-2026) was a rare actor who brought his characteristic intensity to every role that he portrayed. Working across diverse genres ranging from action to comedy, he carved a niche for himself in both Marathi and Hindi cinema. Before Mira Nair’s Salaam Bombay! (1988) brought him acclaim and much deserved recognition, he made his film debut with Muzaffar Ali’s film about urban migration, Gaman (1978). A film which proved transformational, was Vidhu Vinod Chopra’s crime-thriller Parinda (1989), which brought him stardom and his first Filmfare Award. His portrayal of Anna Seth as an unstable, unsettling yet oddly vulnerable man redefined the Hindi film gangster. Making his directorial debut with the hard-hitting film Prahaar (1991), he wrote the film’s screenplay and dialogues, as well as played the lead role of a retired Army commando. Through his five-decade long career, he essayed a range of roles with ease in films like Raju Ban Gaya Gentleman (1992), Tirangaa (1993), Krantiveer (1994), Agni Sakshi (1996), Agni Sakshi (1996), Ab Tak Chhappan (2004), Apaharan (2005), Welcome (2007), Raajneeti (2010), and many others. Along with being a consummate actor, Patekar’s Marathi identity and his love for his birth state of Maharashtra, was an integral part of him. His on-screen persona of being rooted in the soil of Maharshtra was translated into his off-screen work for farmers and drought-hit communities, along with other social work initiatives.