Resul Pookutty mourns Nana Patekar: 'This loss is colossal for me'
Synopsis
Oscar-winner Resul Pookutty had a call scheduled with Nana Patekar on the morning the actor died — and that missed connection became the centrepiece of one of the most raw tributes to emerge from Indian cinema. Tamil star Vishal called Patekar 'a Bible for every aspiring actor.' The loss is reverberating well beyond Bollywood.
Key Takeaways
Resul Pookutty revealed he was scheduled to speak with Nana Patekar on the morning of the actor's death, 8 October 2026 .
Pookutty described the loss as 'colossal' and said he would miss making an unrealised film with Patekar.
Tamil actor Vishal posted condolences on X , calling Patekar 'a gem of our industry' and 'a Bible for every aspiring actor.' Vishal cited Parinda as a film he had watched 'umpteen number of times' to study Patekar's craft.
Patekar is remembered for landmark roles in Krantiveer , Parinda , and Agneepath , among many others.
Oscar-winning sound designer Resul Pookutty has expressed profound grief over the passing of veteran actor Nana Patekar, revealing he had been scheduled to speak with the legendary star on the very morning of his death. In a heartfelt post shared on his Instagram page, Pookutty called the loss 'colossal' and spoke of a film he would now never get to make with Patekar.
Pookutty's Emotional Tribute
In his lengthy Instagram post, Pookutty drew on a story he had heard from a senior filmmaker, about a man who arrived home too late to see his dying father — and the lifetime of guilt that followed. Pookutty said the news of Nana Patekar's passing mirrored that very anguish.
'Sorry Nana, I'm a bit late!' he wrote. 'I was supposed to speak with you this morning. Now that Krantiveer voice will only haunt me till my time comes. This loss is colossal for me. I will miss making that film with you… I will miss that hug, with full of love, kindness and brotherly…. May you Rest In Eternal Peace. Love you and hugs… See you on the other side,' Pookutty said.
The post, which concluded with the hashtags #ripnanapatekar, #loveandloss, and #indiancinema, drew an outpouring of condolences from fans and fellow artists.
Tamil Star Vishal Also Pays Homage
Tamil actor Vishal joined the chorus of mourning, taking to his X (formerly Twitter) timeline to pay tribute. 'Just heard that one of the best of the best actors of Indian cinema #nanapatekar passed away this morning. We have definitely lost a gem of our industry,' Vishal wrote.
He added that he had watched Patekar's acclaimed film Parinda 'umpteen number of times, just to see his portrayal of the character,' describing Patekar as 'a man who brought every character alive' and calling him 'like a Bible for every aspiring actor to learn the nuances of acting.'
'May your soul rest in peace sir. My deepest condolences. Still can't believe this news. Sometimes God has his own design. RIP,' Vishal wrote.
A Legacy That Transcended Boundaries
Nana Patekar was widely regarded as one of the most gifted and intense performers in the history of Indian cinema, with iconic roles in films such as Parinda, Krantiveer, Agneepath, and Welcome spanning multiple decades. His range — from menacing antagonists to deeply humane protagonists — earned him a devoted following across linguistic and generational lines.
The tributes from artists like Pookutty and Vishal, who worked in entirely different crafts and industries, underscore how far Patekar's influence extended beyond mainstream Bollywood.
Industry in Mourning
Pookutty's revelation that he and Patekar had been planning an unrealised film together adds a layer of personal tragedy to a loss that is already being felt industry-wide. The Oscar winner's words — raw and unpolished in their grief — reflect a bond that went beyond professional admiration into genuine friendship.
As tributes continue to pour in from across Indian cinema, the full scale of Nana Patekar's impact on generations of actors, filmmakers, and audiences is only beginning to be reckoned with.
Point of View
And the call that never happened. That specificity elevates this beyond a routine condolence post and points to something mainstream obituaries tend to miss: how many creative collaborations die with their would-be participants. Vishal's tribute, crossing the language divide from Tamil to Hindi cinema, reinforces how rarely an actor achieves the kind of pan-Indian reverence Nana Patekar commanded purely through craft, without a franchise or a media machine behind him. His death is a reminder that Indian cinema's golden character-actor tradition has lost one of its last undisputed custodians.
NationPress
8 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Resul Pookutty say about Nana Patekar's death?
Oscar-winning sound designer Resul Pookutty said the loss of Nana Patekar was 'colossal' for him personally, revealing he had been scheduled to speak with the actor on the very morning he died. In an emotional Instagram post, Pookutty also said he would miss making a film with Patekar that now will never happen.
Who is Resul Pookutty?
Resul Pookutty is an Indian sound designer who won the Academy Award for Best Sound Mixing for the film Slumdog Millionaire in 2009, making him one of the most decorated Indian technicians in global cinema.
What did Tamil actor Vishal say about Nana Patekar?
Vishal posted on X that Nana Patekar was 'one of the best of the best actors of Indian cinema' and called him 'a gem of our industry.' He said he had watched Patekar's film Parinda countless times solely to study his performance, describing Patekar as 'a Bible for every aspiring actor.'
What films is Nana Patekar best remembered for?
Nana Patekar is most celebrated for his roles in Parinda, Krantiveer, Agneepath, and Welcome, among many others. His ability to portray intense, layered characters made him one of Indian cinema's most respected and studied performers.
When did Nana Patekar pass away?
Nana Patekar passed away on the morning of 8 October 2026, according to tributes shared by colleagues including Resul Pookutty and Vishal on the same day.
