Anupam Kher mourns Nana Patekar's death after Washington show: 'He shouldn't have gone'
Synopsis
Anupam Kher was mid-curtain-call in Washington, D.C. when he learned his friend Nana Patekar had died in Goa. The raw, miles-away grief — smiling for photos while absorbing the loss — captures something beyond a standard Bollywood tribute, and underscores just how large Patekar loomed for a generation of Indian cinema.
Key Takeaways
Veteran actor Nana Patekar passed away on 8 October , reportedly after being found unconscious at his Goa residence following chest discomfort.
Anupam Kher , 71 , learned of the news moments after completing a performance in Washington, D.C. , and had to continue meeting audiences before he could grieve.
Kher posted an emotional tribute on Instagram , quoting Patekar's imagined response to tributes: 'So, what happened?
He died — what's the big deal?
Everyone dies!' The two actors shared the screen in 'Mohra' , 'Parinda' , and 'Raajneeti' , among other films.
Kher described Patekar as 'larger than life' with 'the largest heart in the world,' saying 'he shouldn't have gone.'
Veteran actor Anupam Kher has shared a deeply personal account of learning about the passing of his longtime friend and fellow actor Nana Patekar — thousands of miles away from home, moments after taking a curtain call at a performance in Washington, D.C. Patekar, one of Hindi cinema's most celebrated performers, breathed his last on 8 October after reportedly being found unconscious at his Goa residence following a bout of intense chest discomfort.
The Moment Kher Received the News
Kher, 71, took to Instagram to describe the surreal and devastating sequence of events. In an emotional post, he wrote: 'A couple of hours ago, I received the heartbreaking news that my friend Nana Patekar, one of the finest actors and human beings in Indian cinema, is no more. I had just finished our performance and taken the curtain call. As I walked into the wings, my director Gajendra told me, "Nana is no more."'
In an accompanying video, Kher spoke candidly: 'People were clapping, giving me a standing ovation, but as soon as I came into the wings, I found out that Nana Patekar was no more. This is unbelievable. I am thousands of miles away from my country, and this news — no one can get it immediately after the show.'
Carrying On Through Grief
Despite the emotional weight of the moment, Kher said he chose to honour the audience and complete his professional obligations before allowing himself to grieve. 'After that, I had to meet people, pose for photographs, smile, sit down for a meal… while trying to absorb what I had just heard. It was terribly difficult,' he wrote. 'But somewhere, I felt that Nana would have wanted me to finish my work. Fulfil my responsibility to the people who had come to see us. And then, perhaps, remember him.'
In the video, he added: 'I am speaking loudly so that I can suppress my sadness. He would have loved for me to celebrate the performance.'
A Tribute Nana Patekar Might Have Dismissed
With characteristic insight into his friend's personality, Kher painted a vivid portrait of Patekar's unflinching, unpretentious character. He wrote: 'Actually, knowing him, I can almost hear him dismissing the very idea of a tribute: "So, what happened? He died — what's the big deal? Everyone dies!" That was Nana. Direct, unpretentious, with his own way of saying even the most difficult things.'
Kher also recalled Patekar's larger-than-life presence. 'Nana was larger than life. Nana had the largest heart in the world. Nana's anger was all kindness, actually,' he said. 'Some people, you don't think that they will ever go. Nana was one of them.'
A Long Friendship On and Off Screen
Kher and Patekar shared the screen across several acclaimed Bollywood productions, including 'Mohra', 'Parinda', and 'Raajneeti'. Their personal bond extended beyond cinema — Kher recalled that Patekar's home was close to his own, and that on his last meeting, he had told Patekar, 'I will come to your house next time.' The regret was evident as he said: 'I did a lot of films with him and spent a lot of time with him… He shouldn't have gone. It's wrong.'
Kher closed his tribute with words of farewell: 'I will miss you, my friend. Your warmth. Your hugs. Your extraordinary performances. And whenever I miss seeing you, I will watch your films. Though today, I wish I could simply hug you one more time. Goodbye, my friend, Nana Patekar. Sending you lots of love.' His post carried the hashtag #NanaPatekar and drew an outpouring of grief from fans and the film fraternity alike.
Point of View
And whose off-screen persona was inseparable from his art. Kher's account, raw and geographically dislocated, is a reminder that the loss is not merely industry protocol but genuinely personal for those who worked alongside him for decades. The tributes pouring in will be many; what will be harder to replace is the kind of fearless, anti-star naturalism that Patekar brought to Indian cinema at a time when that was genuinely countercultural.
NationPress
8 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How did Nana Patekar die?
Nana Patekar passed away on 8 October after reportedly being found unconscious at his Goa residence following intense chest discomfort. The exact medical details have not been officially confirmed beyond these initial reports.
Where was Anupam Kher when he heard about Nana Patekar's death?
Anupam Kher was in Washington, D.C., and had just completed a stage performance when his director Gajendra informed him backstage that Patekar had died. He then had to continue meeting audience members before he could process the news.
What did Anupam Kher say about Nana Patekar?
Kher called Patekar 'one of the finest actors and human beings in Indian cinema,' describing him as 'larger than life' with 'the largest heart in the world.' He also recalled Patekar's blunt, unpretentious character, writing that Patekar would likely have dismissed any tribute with the remark, 'Everyone dies — what's the big deal?'
Which films did Anupam Kher and Nana Patekar do together?
The two actors shared the screen in several notable Bollywood films, including 'Mohra,' 'Parinda,' and 'Raajneeti.' Kher also described a close personal friendship, with the two living near each other in Mumbai.
How did Anupam Kher pay tribute to Nana Patekar?
Kher posted an emotional tribute on Instagram, including a video message and a written post ending with, 'Goodbye, my friend, Nana Patekar. Sending you lots of love.' He expressed regret that he had not visited Patekar's home on their last meeting and said, 'I wish I could simply hug you one more time.'
