Actor Nana Patekar dies of heart attack in Goa at 75
Marathi and Hindi cinema actor Nana Patekar died early on Thursday in Goa, and police have recorded a natural death.
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Actor Nana Patekar, one of the biggest names of Marathi and Hindi cinema, is no more. He died in the early hours of Thursday, October 11, in Goa. He was 75 and, according to the information available, died of a heart attack.
The news came as a major shock to the film industry, including in Maharashtra. Patekar was known to keep fit and had no major illness, and everyone is asking how this could happen so suddenly.
According to the police, Patekar lived at the Ocean Park society in Dona Paula, Goa. A caretaker was with him at the house that night. His close friend Amey Naik, a family friend, was with him till 11.30 pm. Naik said Patekar was perfectly normal until then and had no discomfort.
Naik then went home. At 2.30 am, Patekar began to feel restless and immediately sent Naik a message. It read, "I am feeling unwell."
As it was night, Naik saw the message only at 3.30 am. He called Patekar as soon as he saw it, but there was no answer. He then rushed to Patekar's house.
When he arrived, Patekar was sitting on the sofa and was in very poor health. He said he had pain on the left side of his chest and was feeling a great deal of pressure. Naik decided at once to go to hospital. Patekar went to change his clothes and, on returning and sitting on the sofa, lost consciousness.
With his condition serious, Naik called an ambulance immediately with the help of the watchman. Manipal Hospital was only four to five minutes from the house, and Patekar was taken there at once. Doctors administered CPR for 45 minutes and tried their best, but without success. They declared Patekar dead at 5.20 am.
People are now saying that had the message been seen at 2.30 am, Patekar might have got help sooner and could have been alive today. The police have registered a natural death and further investigation is under way.
Patekar was more than an actor; he was a personality. People will never forget his work in films such as Parinda, Prahaar, Krantiveer and Natsamrat. His voice, his style and his plain speaking were his identity.
He also did significant work outside films. He started the Naam Foundation for farmers and always stood with the common man. With his passing, not just the film industry but the whole of Maharashtra feels bereft.
