Remembering Nana Patekar: A Look Back at His Most Iconic Cinematic Roles

Indian actor Nana Patekar, who died on Thursday aged 75, leaves behind a remarkable body of work spanning nearly five decades, ranging from intense crime dramas and hard-hitting social commentaries to some of Bollywood's most beloved comedies. Known for his distinctive voice, explosive dialogue delivery, and commanding screen presence, Patekar was one of Indian cinema's most recognisable performers. Whether playing a ruthless gangster, an uncompromising police officer, or a vulnerable father, he brought an intensity to his characters that few actors could match.

Born Vishwanath Patekar in Maharashtra in 1951, he began his career in theatre before making his film debut in Gaman in 1978. He went on to become a major force in both Hindi and Marathi cinema, winning three National Film Awards and receiving the Padma Shri, one of India's highest civilian honours, in 2013.

Patekar's career also had a strong connection to the UAE, where he filmed two of his most popular comedies, Welcome and Welcome Back, with locations across Dubai and Abu Dhabi. As tributes pour in for the veteran star, here are 10 of his most memorable performances.

Salaam Bombay! (1988)

Patekar played Baba Golub, a drug dealer, in Mira Nair's acclaimed debut feature, which offered an unflinching portrayal of life among Mumbai's street children. The film follows Krishna, a young boy struggling to survive on the city's streets, where he encounters sex workers, drug dealers, and other marginalised characters. Patekar's Baba is one of the adults whose troubled lives intersect with the boy's journey. Salaam Bombay! earned international acclaim and was nominated for Best Foreign Language Film at the 1989 Academy Awards.

Parinda (1989)

Patekar's portrayal of Anna, a ruthless underworld gangster in Vidhu Vinod Chopra's crime drama, remains one of his most celebrated performances. Starring alongside Anil Kapoor, Jackie Shroff, and Madhuri Dixit, Patekar played a violent and unpredictable crime boss whose actions drive the film's tragic events. The role earned Patekar the National Film Award for Best Supporting Actor.

Prahaar: The Final Attack (1991)

Patekar took on both directing and acting duties in this military drama, playing Major Pratap Chauhan, a fiercely disciplined army officer who trains young recruits for combat. The character's uncompromising sense of duty gave Patekar ample opportunity to showcase the fiery intensity that would become his trademark.

Krantiveer (1994)

Few films are as closely associated with Patekar as Krantiveer, in which he played Pratap Narayan Tilak, a disillusioned man who becomes a crusader against corruption, injustice, and communal hatred. Directed by Mehul Kumar, the action drama became famous for Patekar's powerful monologues, earning him the National Film Award for Best Actor.

Agni Sakshi (1996)

In this psychological drama, inspired by Julia Roberts' 1991 film Sleeping with the Enemy, Patekar played Vishwanath, an abusive and obsessive husband whose wife, played by Manisha Koirala, attempts to escape his control. The role earned him the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor.

Khamoshi: The Musical (1996)

Patekar showed a very different side of his acting abilities in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's directorial debut. He played Joseph Braganza, a deaf father whose daughter Annie, portrayed by Manisha Koirala, dreams of pursuing a career in music, requiring a quieter, more physically expressive performance.

Ab Tak Chhappan (2004)

Patekar returned to the crime genre with this gritty thriller, playing Sadhu Agashe, a Mumbai police officer specialising in encounters with suspected gangsters. The film became a cult favourite and was followed by Ab Tak Chhappan 2 in 2015, with Patekar reprising the role.

Apaharan (2005)

In Prakash Jha's crime drama, Patekar played Tabrez Alam, a powerful gangster whose influence extends into the worlds of politics and organised kidnapping, starring alongside Ajay Devgn.

Welcome (2007) and Welcome Back (2015)

Patekar surprised audiences with his comic turn as Uday Shetty in Anees Bazmee's Welcome, starring alongside Anil Kapoor. Much of Welcome was shot in Dubai, while its sequel featured locations across Dubai and Abu Dhabi, premiering at the Dubai International Film Festival in 2014.

Natsamrat (2016)

One of Patekar's most acclaimed later-career performances came in this Marathi-language drama, adapted from the play by V V Shirwadkar, where he played Ganpatrao Belwalkar, an ageing theatre actor struggling with changing family relationships and loneliness.