Nana Patekar death reason: 'Uncomfortable' actor messaged a friend at 2.30 am. Doctor shares what happened after that

Bollywood veteran actor Nana Patekar breathed his last today, October 8. He was 75. His son Malhar Patekar confirmed the news of his father’s death and shared that the funeral would be held in India. Tributes have been pouring in since the news of his demise broke. From members of the film fraternity to political leaders, social media has been flooded with messages of grief and condolences.

While details about Nana Patekar’s death continue to emerge, Dr Shekhar Salkar, chief of the oncology department at Manipal Hospital, Goa, has shared what happened in the early hours of Thursday. According to the doctor, the actor had messaged a friend around 2.30 am saying that he was not feeling well.

Nana Patekar messaged friend at 2.30 am before reaching hospital

Speaking to the media, Dr Salkar said Nana had contacted a friend at around 2.30 am and told him that he was feeling "uncomfortable". However, since it was late at night, the message was reportedly not understood immediately.

The doctor further said, "The friend reached Nana’s residence at around 4 am. By then, the actor was reportedly sweating and gasping for breath. Nana’s caretaker then arranged for an ambulance and medical help was called to the residence.

He also said that the actor had been brought to the hospital after suffering a cardiac arrest and that the medical team had tried its best to save him.

The exact cause of the cardiac arrest, however, was not immediately known. Dr Salkar said the hospital did not have information about whether Nana had a previous history of heart problems or whether he was taking any medication for a cardiac condition.

Post-mortem to be conducted in Goa

Since Nana was brought to the hospital in an unresponsive state, the hospital registered a medico-legal case. His body was subsequently shifted to Goa Medical College for a post-mortem examination.

Dr Salkar said the post-mortem would be completed before the body was handed over to Nana’s relatives. The procedure is part of the investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death.

Meanwhile, Maharashtra Cultural Affairs Minister Ashish Shelar announced that Nana Patekar would be accorded a state funeral. The decision recognises the veteran actor’s contribution to Indian cinema, particularly his work in both Hindi and Marathi films.

Nana Patekar’s career in Hindi and Marathi cinema

Nana Patekar was one of the most respected actors in Hindi and Marathi cinema. He made his acting debut with the 1978 film Gaman and gradually built a career known for intense and memorable performances.

Over the decades, he appeared in several acclaimed films, including Parinda, Prahar, Angaar, Krantiveer, Tiranga, Khamoshi and Ab Tak Chhappan. His performances often stood out for their intensity, distinctive dialogue delivery and ability to bring complicated characters to life.

Patekar also explored comedy and mainstream cinema, with his performance as Uday Shetty in Welcome becoming particularly popular with audiences.

Even in his later years, the actor remained active in films. His recent work included Housefull 5, Vishal Bhardwaj’s O’ Romeo, in which he played a police officer, and a cameo in Subedar, starring Anil Kapoor and Radhikka Madan.