Nana Patekar death: The Indian cricket fraternity joined the nation in mourning the death of veteran actor Nana Patekar on Thursday. Among those who paid tribute were cricket legends Virat Kohli and Sachin Tendulkar, who remembered the actor for his extraordinary contribution to Indian cinema and his genuine personality.
Nana Patekar died on October 8, 2026, at the age of 75 after suffering a cardiac arrest at his residence in Dona Paula, Goa. He was taken to Manipal Hospital after being found unresponsive, but doctors could not revive him. He was declared dead at around 5:20 am.
The news triggered an outpouring of grief across Bollywood, politics, sports and beyond. For Indian cricket fans, however, the tributes from Virat Kohli and Sachin Tendulkar carried a special significance because Nana Patekar himself had openly spoken about his love for cricket and his admiration for some of India’s biggest stars.
Virat Kohli remembers Nana Patekar as a true legend
Virat Kohli paid an emotional tribute to Nana Patekar through a post on X. The former India captain described Patekar as a true legend of Indian cinema and highlighted two things that, according to him, would ensure the actor remained remembered for generations — his work and his legacy.
“A true legend of Indian cinema. His work and legacy will live on for generations. Rest in peace, Nana Patekar ji. Om Shanti,” Kohli wrote.
It was a short message, but it captured the scale of Patekar’s contribution. Rather than focusing only on individual films or awards, Kohli pointed to the larger impact the actor had created throughout his career.
Nana Patekar spent decades moving between Marathi and Hindi cinema and became known for performances that were rarely ordinary. His voice, expressions, dialogue delivery and ability to bring intensity to difficult characters made him one of the most recognisable performers in Indian cinema.
His career included films such as Parinda, Krantiveer, Tirangaa, Prahaar, Khamoshi: The Musical and Ab Tak Chhappan. He won three National Film Awards and was also honoured with the Padma Shri in 2013.
Sachin Tendulkar remembers the man behind the actor
Sachin Tendulkar also shared a heartfelt message after hearing about Nana Patekar’s death.
The former India batting great remembered Patekar as a straightforward and grounded person. Tendulkar also praised the honesty he brought to his work, regardless of whether he was acting in Marathi or Hindi films.
“I remember Nana Patekar as a very straightforward and grounded person. His work had that same honesty to it,” Tendulkar wrote.
Tendulkar added that Patekar had a rare ability to make every character feel real. That quality, perhaps more than anything else, explains why his performances remained memorable across generations.
For cricket fans, the connection between Tendulkar, Kohli and Patekar was not simply about two famous cricketers paying tribute to a famous actor. Nana was himself deeply passionate about cricket.
Nana Patekar was a huge Virat Kohli fan
One of the most emotional parts of the story has emerged through an old video in which Nana Patekar spoke about Virat Kohli.
Patekar had openly admitted that he was a huge admirer of Kohli and followed his performances closely. In the resurfaced video, he said that if Kohli got out early, he would lose his appetite and would not feel like eating.
That old connection makes Kohli’s tribute particularly poignant.
Nana Patekar was not simply someone who occasionally watched cricket. He had a long-standing relationship with the sport. Reports have noted that he played cricket during his younger days and bowled off-spin. He had also spoken about having ambitions of becoming a cricketer before circumstances forced him to move towards work and acting.
His passion for sport extended beyond cricket as well. Patekar was also associated with competitive shooting and was part of a Maharashtra team that won a bronze medal at a national shooting championship in 2007.
A career that crossed generations
Nana Patekar’s appeal came from his ability to move between different kinds of cinema without losing his identity.
He began his film career with Gaman in 1978 and gradually established himself as one of the most intense actors of his generation. His performance in Parinda became one of the defining moments of his career, while Krantiveer further strengthened his reputation as an actor capable of carrying emotionally demanding roles.
At the same time, Patekar was not restricted to serious cinema. His appearance as Uday Shetty in the Welcome franchise introduced his unique style to a much younger generation of viewers.
That ability to remain relevant across decades is perhaps what Kohli meant when he referred to Patekar’s work and legacy living on for generations.
Beyond acting, Patekar also worked as a director and remained involved with social causes. He was associated with efforts supporting farmers and families affected by drought in Maharashtra through the Naam Foundation.
Cricket world joins the mourning
Kohli and Tendulkar were not the only cricketers to remember Nana Patekar.
Former India players including Shikhar Dhawan and Ajinkya Rahane also expressed their sadness. Rahane described Patekar as a remarkable actor whose work inspired generations, while Dhawan remembered him as a truly special talent.
Yuvraj Singh also paid tribute, remembering Patekar’s voice, screen presence and memorable performances.
The response from the cricket community underlined something that was easy to forget about Patekar’s public image: he was not only an iconic actor but also a passionate sports fan.
For years, Indian cricket and Indian cinema have shared a close relationship. Patekar’s affection for cricket was one of the more personal examples of that connection.
Nana Patekar’s final chapter
Patekar’s death came suddenly. According to reports, he experienced severe chest pain at his Goa residence before being found unresponsive. Medical personnel attempted to revive him after he was taken to hospital, but he could not be saved.
Maharashtra has announced that the veteran actor will receive a state funeral in recognition of his contribution to Marathi theatre and Hindi and Marathi cinema. His final rites are scheduled to take place in Pune.
His passing leaves behind a career spanning nearly five decades and a body of work that continues to connect audiences from different generations.
For Sachin Tendulkar, Nana Patekar will be remembered as a straightforward and grounded man whose honesty appeared in his acting. For Virat Kohli, he was a true legend whose work and legacy would survive for generations.
Those two tributes perhaps offer the simplest way to understand why Nana Patekar’s death has affected people far beyond the film industry.
A legendary actor has left the stage, but his characters, voice, performances and the impact of his work will continue to live on.
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