WikiPop's Pick · October 8, 2026
Nana Patekar
Indian actor and filmmaker (1951–2026)
Vishwanath Patekar, nicknamed Nana, was an Indian actor and filmmaker, mainly working in Hindi and Marathi cinema. Widely regarded as one of the greatest and most influential actors in Indian Cinema, Patekar was recipient of the three National Film Awards, four Filmfare Awards, two Maharashtra State Film Awards and two Filmfare Awards Marathi for his acting performances. He was bestowed with the Padma Shri award in 2013 for his contribution to cinema and arts industry.
Why the popularity?
This summary is AI-generated and may contain errors. It's researched by Claude Sonnet 5.5 using web search and Wikipedia, then reviewed and rewritten by a separate Claude Sonnet 5.5 editor.- Nana Patekar, the actor famous for fierce, unforgettable performances across nearly five decades of Hindi and Marathi cinema, died at 75.
- He broke out internationally in Mira Nair's Oscar-nominated Salaam Bombay! and later won Best Actor at the National Film Awards for Krantiveer.
- Off screen he was an honorary lieutenant colonel in India's Territorial Army and co-founded the Naam Foundation, which helps farmers.
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute, praising his "intensity, individuality and unmistakable presence" as an actor.
