Actor Gurmeet Choudhary has paid a heartfelt tribute to veteran actor Nana Patekar, who passed away on 8 October 2026 at the age of 75, recalling how the late star's decision to stand beside soldiers during the Kargil War left a lasting impression on him as a young man. Choudhary described Patekar as a remarkable human being whose impact extended far beyond the boundaries of Indian cinema.

The Kargil Moment That Stayed With Him

Speaking to reporters, Choudhary shared a memory rooted not in any film set but in a newspaper story he had read years ago. He said he distinctly remembered reading that Nana Patekar was among the first from the entertainment industry to travel to the front and spend time alongside Indian soldiers during the Kargil War.

'He was a very good person, an actor. He will always have a place in our hearts. I remember a story I read in the newspaper. When Kargil war was going on, he was the first actor who went to war and stayed with the soldiers. I was very inspired by that,' Choudhary said.

For Choudhary, the anecdote crystallised something larger — that the measure of an artist is not confined to their on-screen work. 'I feel that being an actor is not enough. What you do for the society is very important,' he added.

A Loss Felt Across the Film Fraternity

Nana Patekar, a Padma Shri awardee, was found unconscious at his Goa residence after experiencing severe chest discomfort, according to reports. His death has prompted an outpouring of grief from across the Indian film industry. Among those who paid tribute were Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, Hema Malini, Raj Babbar, Anupam Kher, Rohit Shetty, Sanjay Dutt, Akshay Kumar, and Pankaj Tripathi.

Pankaj Tripathi's Personal Tribute

Actor Pankaj Tripathi, who shared the screen with Patekar in the film Kaala, offered one of the most personal accounts of what the veteran meant to those who worked alongside him. Tripathi recalled that Patekar's guidance was never limited to the craft alone — he would often weigh in on life decisions and the finer nuances of performance.

'Nana ji's passing is an incredibly painful loss for our entire fraternity; it's a deeply personal loss for me. I had the privilege of sharing screen space with him in Kaala, and that experience will always remain very special to me. He was not just a co-actor but someone who would guide me on the craft, life choices, and the smallest nuances of acting,' Tripathi said.

A Legacy Beyond the Screen

Patekar's career spanned decades and included celebrated performances across Hindi and Marathi cinema. His social commitments — from supporting drought-affected farmers in Maharashtra to the Kargil episode recalled by Choudhary — were cited repeatedly in tributes as evidence of a life lived with purpose beyond the spotlight. As the industry mourns, the recurring theme in condolences is that Nana Patekar the person was as compelling as any role he ever played.