Nana Patekar’s 10 Best Performances: From Parinda and Krantiveer to Natsamrat

Nana Patekar was an actor who never needed an introduction once he entered a scene. His voice, expressions, intensity and ability to completely disappear into a character made him one of the most distinctive performers in Indian cinema.

Across Hindi and Marathi cinema, Patekar moved effortlessly between intense dramas, crime films, political thrillers and even comedy. His career also brought him three National Film Awards — for Parinda, Krantiveer and Agni Sakshi — while his performance in Natsamrat further established his standing as one of Marathi cinema’s finest actors.

Nana Patekar passed away at the age of 75 on Thursday morning after suffering a cardiac arrest at his residence in Goa. He was reportedly found unconscious and doctors attempted CPR for around 45 minutes, but could not revive him. His death has left the Hindi and Marathi film industries mourning the loss of one of their most respected performers.

As the industry remembers the veteran actor, here are 10 performances that showcase the remarkable range of Nana Patekar.

Vidhu Vinod Chopra’s Parinda gave Nana Patekar one of the defining performances of his career. As the ruthless gangster Anna, Patekar created a character that was terrifying without relying on constant theatrics. What made the performance stand out was the unpredictability. Anna could appear calm in one moment and turn frighteningly violent in the next. Patekar’s controlled body language and distinctive dialogue delivery made the character unforgettable.

The performance earned him the National Film Award for Best Supporting Actor as well as the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor.

If Parinda established Nana Patekar as a formidable performer, Krantiveer proved that he could carry an entire film on his shoulders. Playing Pratap Narayan Tilak, an angry and disillusioned man who finds a renewed purpose, Patekar brought enormous emotional force to the character. His performance captured frustration, patriotism, anger and vulnerability without making Pratap feel like a conventional hero.

Patekar won the National Film Award for Best Actor for the performance, along with the Filmfare Award for Best Actor.

In Agni Sakshi, Nana Patekar moved into much darker territory. His portrayal of Vishwanath, an obsessive and abusive former husband, was deeply unsettling. The performance worked because Patekar did not turn Vishwanath into a one-dimensional villain. His character’s psychological instability, possessiveness and menace made every appearance uncomfortable to watch.

For the role, Patekar won his third National Film Award, taking home Best Supporting Actor.

One of Nana Patekar’s most underrated performances came in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Khamoshi: The Musical. As Joseph Braganza, a deaf father struggling to understand and accept his daughter’s ambitions, Patekar showed a completely different side of his acting.

There was no need for the explosive dialogue delivery associated with many of his famous roles. Instead, he relied on expressions, silence and body language to communicate Joseph’s love, anger and emotional pain. It was a powerful reminder that Nana Patekar could be just as effective when he said very little.

In Ab Tak Chhappan, Patekar played Sadhu Agashe, an encounter specialist in the Mumbai Police. The character was not presented as a typical heroic cop. Agashe was experienced, emotionally exhausted and surrounded by the moral complexities of his profession. Patekar gave the character a restrained intensity that made him feel grounded and believable.

His performance became one of the highlights of the 2000s and earned him the Bengal Film Journalists’ Association Award for Best Actor in Hindi.

With Apaharan, Nana Patekar once again demonstrated why he was so effective in morally complicated roles. As Tabrez Alam, he played a powerful and calculating figure operating within Bihar’s kidnapping and political landscape. Patekar gave the character an intimidating presence without overplaying him. The performance earned him the Filmfare Award for Best Performance in a Negative Role, adding another major recognition to his already decorated career.

Nana Patekar’s legacy would not be complete without Uday Shetty. His straight-faced delivery made the absurd situations even funnier. Alongside Anil Kapoor’s Majnu Bhai, Patekar created one of Bollywood’s most memorable comic partnerships. His straight-faced delivery made the absurd situations even funnier. Alongside Anil Kapoor’s Majnu Bhai, Patekar created one of Bollywood’s most memorable comic partnerships.

Prakash Jha’s Raajneeti allowed Patekar to showcase a quieter form of power. As Brij Gopal, a political strategist inspired by the world of Chanakya-like power politics, he did not need explosive monologues to command attention. His character operated through strategy, calculation and influence. Patekar’s restrained performance became one of the film’s strongest elements and earned him a Filmfare nomination for Best Supporting Actor.

For many fans, Natsamrat remains one of Nana Patekar’s greatest performances. In the Marathi adaptation of the celebrated stage play, Patekar played Ganpatrao Belwalkar, a retired theatre actor whose life begins to unravel after he leaves the stage. 

The role demanded a wide emotional range — pride, humour, loneliness, anger, heartbreak and helplessness. Patekar brought the character’s theatrical background and personal tragedy together in a performance that felt deeply lived-in. His work in the film earned him the Filmfare Award for Best Actor in Marathi cinema. His work in the film earned him the Filmfare Award for Best Actor in Marathi cinema.

Prahaar: The Final Attack holds a special place in Nana Patekar’s career because he not only starred in the film but also directed it. He played Major Pratap Chauhan, a highly disciplined Army officer whose worldview is challenged by what he witnesses outside the battlefield.

The film gave Patekar an opportunity to combine his acting with his vision as a filmmaker. His performance reflected the discipline and intensity that had become trademarks of his screen persona, while the film itself explored questions around corruption, violence and social responsibility.