Salman Khan, Shah Rukh Khan mourn Nana Patekar's death: 'Rest in peace bhau'
Synopsis
When Shah Rukh Khan says a man who slapped his hand and called him an actor — not a hero — was his greatest mentor, you understand what Bollywood has lost. Salman Khan's simple 'Rest in peace bhau' and SRK's carrom-game anecdote together paint the portrait of a performer who never flattered anyone, and was loved all the more for it.
Key Takeaways
Salman Khan paid tribute to Nana Patekar on Instagram Stories , calling him 'bhau' and wishing him rest in peace.
Shah Rukh Khan shared a personal anecdote about Patekar's mentorship, describing him as 'a mentor, a teacher, a critic and a friend.' Manisha Koirala called Patekar 'a true stalwart of the craft' whose contribution to cinema would always be remembered.
Salman and Patekar co-starred in the 1996 musical drama Khamoshi: The Musical , which also featured Manisha Koirala and Seema Biswas.
Multiple prominent Bollywood figures joined in mourning, reflecting Patekar's towering stature in Indian cinema.
Bollywood actor Salman Khan paid a deeply emotional tribute to the late veteran actor Nana Patekar, fondly remembered as 'Bhau' by colleagues across the Hindi film industry. Salman uploaded a black-and-white photograph of the legendary actor on his Instagram Stories, writing, 'Nanaaaaaaaaaa Rest in peace bhau…' — a brief but heartfelt farewell from one of Bollywood's biggest stars.
A Bond Forged on the Sets of Khamoshi
Salman Khan and Nana Patekar shared the screen in the 1996 musical drama Khamoshi: The Musical, a critically acclaimed film that also starred Manisha Koirala and Seema Biswas. Patekar portrayed Joseph Braganza in the film, while Salman played the role of Raj. The film remains one of the more celebrated collaborative works of that era, and the bond forged on that set clearly endured for decades.
Shah Rukh Khan's Deeply Personal Remembrance
Actor Shah Rukh Khan shared one of the most personal tributes to emerge since the news broke. Writing on Instagram, SRK recalled his very first encounter with Patekar, saying he was 'extremely nervous and was fiddling with his hair' when Nana 'slapped his hand away' and told him, 'hero ki tarah Baal mat bana…tu actor hai!'
'He didn't flatter you. He didn't tell you what you wanted to hear. He told you what you needed to hear. That was Nana. Straightforward. Rough, honest and had the most beautiful smile,' Shah Rukh Khan wrote. He added that Patekar 'would shout at you first, and then somewhere between the third or fourth insult, you realised you were being hugged,' describing him as 'a mentor, a teacher, a critic and a friend who beat me and everyone else around him in carrom game after game and relished his victories.'
Manisha Koirala and the Wider Industry React
Actress Manisha Koirala, who starred alongside Patekar in Khamoshi: The Musical, also mourned the loss on her official social media handle. 'Deeply saddened by the passing of a great actor, a remarkable presence and a true stalwart of the craft. His contribution to cinema and his dedication to his craft will always be remembered. May his soul rest in peace. Om Shanti,' she wrote.
Several other prominent figures from Bollywood joined in, sharing nostalgic posts paying homage to the actor whose decades-long career left an indelible mark on Indian cinema.
A Legacy That Will Endure
Nana Patekar was widely regarded as one of the most formidable and uncompromising performers in Hindi cinema, known for his intense screen presence and roles that demanded emotional range and authenticity. His passing marks the end of an era for an industry that shaped some of its defining moments around his craft. The outpouring of grief from peers of his stature underscores the scale of the loss Bollywood — and Indian cinema broadly — now grapples with.
Point of View
Shah Rukh Khan, Manisha Koirala — is itself a measure of his stature. What is striking is that none of the tributes dwell on box-office numbers or awards; they all reach for the same word: 'craft.' In an industry that routinely conflates stardom with acting ability, Patekar was a consistent, uncomfortable reminder that they are not the same thing. His passing leaves a gap that is not merely sentimental but professional — there are very few performers left who hold that particular mirror up.
NationPress
8 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How did Salman Khan pay tribute to Nana Patekar?
Salman Khan shared a black-and-white photograph of Nana Patekar on his Instagram Stories, writing 'Nanaaaaaaaaaa Rest in peace bhau…' The tribute reflected their long personal and professional bond.
What did Shah Rukh Khan say about Nana Patekar?
Shah Rukh Khan wrote on Instagram that Patekar was 'straightforward, rough, honest' and recalled how Patekar corrected him at their very first meeting, telling him 'tu actor hai.' SRK described him as 'a mentor, a teacher, a critic and a friend.'
Which film did Salman Khan and Nana Patekar appear in together?
Salman Khan and Nana Patekar appeared together in the 1996 musical drama Khamoshi: The Musical. The film also starred Manisha Koirala and Seema Biswas, with Patekar playing Joseph Braganza and Salman playing Raj.
What did Manisha Koirala say about Nana Patekar's passing?
Manisha Koirala wrote on her official social media handle that she was 'deeply saddened by the passing of a great actor, a remarkable presence and a true stalwart of the craft.' She added that his dedication to his craft would always be remembered.
Why is Nana Patekar considered a legend in Indian cinema?
Nana Patekar was widely regarded as one of the most intense and uncompromising performers in Hindi cinema, known for his emotional range and authenticity on screen. The unprecedented outpouring of personal tributes from top Bollywood stars underscores the depth of his influence across generations of actors.
