Cinema VinesVeteran Indian actor Nana Patekar, 75, passed away on October 8 after a sudden heart attack, according to a post‑mortem report released by Goa Medical College and Hospital. The autopsy confirmed that a blood clot had blocked the left main coronary artery, the vessel that supplies a large portion of the heart, leading to an acute myocardial infarction.
Patekar was at his home in Dona Paula, Goa, when he suddenly fell unwell. His caretaker called a private hospital and an ambulance was dispatched, arriving within a kilometre of the residence. Medical staff began cardiopulmonary resuscitation immediately and continued the effort for approximately 45 minutes, but were unable to revive him. He was pronounced dead at 5:10 a.m. on the day of the incident.
The post‑mortem findings described the cause of death as “acute myocardial infarction due to left main coronary artery thrombosis secondary to atherosclerotic occlusive coronary artery disease, a natural cause of death.” This statement clarified that the death was due to natural causes, after initial suspicions of a heart attack had already been raised by the treating doctors.
Following the death, Nana’s son Malhar Patekar travelled to Goa to retrieve his father’s remains. The body was first taken to Pune and then transported to Nana’s farmhouse in Donje village, where he was cremated with full state honours. The funeral marked the end of a prolific career that spanned decades in both Hindi and Marathi cinema, with Patekar known for his intense performances and distinctive screen presence.
