Nana Patekar Dies at 75: His Last Posts Were About O’Romeo
Nana Patekar died at 75 after a cardiac arrest at his Goa home. His final posts were about O'Romeo; here's what we know and where to watch him.
Nana Patekar, the National Award-winning actor whose gravelly voice and unblinking intensity made him one of Indian cinema’s most original performers, died on Thursday morning at his residence in Dona Paula, Goa. He was 75. For an audience that follows stars as closely as films, the news lands like the end of an era.
His son, Malhar Patekar, confirmed the news. Patekar was found unconscious and rushed to hospital, where doctors attempted CPR for around 45 minutes. He was declared dead at approximately 5.20 am after suffering a cardiac arrest.
His final posts were still about O’Romeo
Even in his final months, Patekar stayed close to his work. In June, he shared the trailer for O’Romeo and wrote, “Get ready for a love story that never played by the rules!” The post was to flag the film’s 28 June television premiere on Zee Cinema. His last activity on X, formerly Twitter, came in March, also about O’Romeo.
That makes the Vishal Bhardwaj-directed romantic action thriller his final theatrical release. Produced by Sajid Nadiadwala under Nadiadwala Grandson Entertainment, the film is based on Hussain Zaidi’s Mafia Queens of Mumbai. It stars Shahid Kapoor, Triptii Dimri, Patekar, Avinash Tiwary and Farida Jalal, with Tamannaah Bhatia, Disha Patani and Vikrant Massey in special appearances.
O’Romeo’s box-office run
The film earned a mixed response and had a difficult theatrical run. Against a reported budget of ₹150 crore, O’Romeo collected ₹72.99 crore in India and ₹110.81 crore worldwide.
Where to watch him now
For fans who want to sit with his final performances, the recent titles are spread across streaming and television:
- O’Romeo — his final theatrical release, which had its television premiere on Zee Cinema on 28 June.
- Subedaar — a recent cameo alongside Anil Kapoor, Radhika Madan and Saurabh Shukla, streaming on Prime Video.
- Sankalp — his last web series, a Prakash Jha-directed socio-political drama on MX Player, also with Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub, Kubbra Sait, Sanjay Kapoor and Neeraj Kabi.
A career without a template
Patekar built his reputation on not being like anyone else. Where mainstream Bollywood often rewards polish, he brought rawness, timing and a voice that could turn a simple line into a warning or a wound. That range is why his passing is being felt across Hindi and Marathi cinema, not just by one generation of fans.
His recent filmography also maps the ways Indian actors now travel between the big screen and streaming. O’Romeo was theatrical, Subedaar went to Prime Video, and Sankalp, his final web series, sits on MX Player. That spread means no fan has to go far to find him.
Why this loss cuts deep
Patekar was regarded as among Indian cinema’s most distinctive and influential performers, with a career that spanned Hindi and Marathi films. News of his death brought tributes from film personalities including Neil Nitin Mukesh, Khushbu Sundar and Riteish Deshmukh.
There is something quietly telling in his last post being about a television premiere rather than a theatrical opening. Even one of the screen’s most respected veterans was, in his final months, speaking to audiences through a small-screen window. For younger fans, that is also an invitation — his recent work is easy to find, and it is the best way to remember him.
Source: Hindustan Times
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