Nana Patekar death: Dr Mickey Mehta recalls friendship born in a car ride
Synopsis
Nana Patekar, one of Bollywood's most versatile screen presences, passed away on 8 October. Health guru Dr Mickey Mehta's tribute reveals the warmly human side of the actor — a man whose wit, spontaneity, and straight-faced humour made a lifelong impression across just three meetings, the first of which was a car ride to a Mumbai charity event.
Key Takeaways
Veteran actor Nana Patekar passed away on 8 October after being found unresponsive at his Goa residence.
He reportedly suffered severe chest discomfort before his death, according to reports.
Health guru Dr Mickey Mehta recalled their friendship began during a car ride to an Amruta Fadnavis foundation event called Divyaj .
Mehta and Patekar met only three times — in Mumbai , Dubai (during the shooting of Welcome ), and at a third event.
Mehta described Patekar as 'spontaneous', 'humorous with a straight face', and 'a very interesting person.'
Veteran actor Nana Patekar, who passed away on 8 October after being found unresponsive at his Goa residence following reported severe chest discomfort, is being remembered warmly by those who knew him. Health guru Dr Mickey Mehta, a close friend, has shared a candid account of how their unlikely friendship began — and why Patekar left an indelible impression despite only three meetings.
Childhood neighbours, adult strangers
Dr Mehta recalled that he and Patekar had been aware of each other long before they ever truly met. Both had roots in the same part of Mumbai — Patekar in Khetwadi, Mehta near Grant Road — yet their paths did not intersect in any meaningful way during those years. 'We knew him. He used to live in our area, in our childhood area, in Khetwadi. I used to live in Grant Road. But we were not friends with him then,' Mehta said.
A car ride that changed everything
The friendship was sparked at an event organised by Amruta Fadnavis' foundation, Divyaj, where Patekar was the chief guest. Mehta was assigned to pick him up. 'I picked him up from his house in Lokhandwala, in my car. And we had a conversation in the car, a very interesting conversation,' he recalled. That single journey, by his own account, laid the foundation of a genuine bond.
Dubai gym sessions and a third encounter
Their second meeting came in Dubai, where Patekar was on location shooting for the comedy film Welcome. Mehta, in the city for work, found himself at the same gym. 'He used to work out in Dubai's gym. We also worked out together there,' he said. A third meeting at another event rounded out what Mehta described as a friendship forged in remarkably few encounters — 'I met him only three times. And I got to know him very well in those three times.'
The man behind the screen persona
Mehta was effusive about the actor's off-screen personality. 'He had a very good, entertaining behaviour. He was very spontaneous. He had a very good sense of repartee. He was humorous too, with a straight face. And he was a little finicky,' he said. Mehta also noted that stories from mutual friends only deepened his admiration. 'He was a very interesting person,' he concluded.
Patekar's career spanned decades, earning him recognition across dramatic, villainous, and comedic roles alike. Mehta praised his range specifically: 'He was a great actor, a great villain, a great supporting actor, and a great comedian, as we saw in Welcome.' The tributes pouring in from across the film industry reflect the scale of the loss as India mourns one of its most distinctive screen presences.
Point of View
In the unguarded moments between appearances. Dr Mehta's account — three meetings, each brief, yet each etched in memory — says more about Patekar's rare quality of presence than a filmography summary ever could. His death also arrives as Bollywood grapples with a generation of character actors whose layered performances anchored commercial Hindi cinema through its most commercially dominant era. That particular archetype — the unpredictable, classically trained actor equally at home in tragedy and farce — will be genuinely difficult to replace.
NationPress
8 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
When and how did Nana Patekar pass away?
Nana Patekar passed away on 8 October after being found unresponsive at his residence in Goa. According to reports, he had reportedly suffered severe chest discomfort before his death.
How did Dr Mickey Mehta and Nana Patekar become friends?
Their friendship began when Dr Mehta was assigned to pick up Patekar for an event hosted by Amruta Fadnavis' foundation, Divyaj, in Mumbai. A conversation during the car ride from Lokhandwala sparked the connection.
How many times did Dr Mickey Mehta meet Nana Patekar?
Dr Mehta met Patekar exactly three times — first in Mumbai during the Divyaj foundation event, second at a gym in Dubai while Patekar was shooting for the film Welcome, and a third time at another event.
How did Dr Mickey Mehta describe Nana Patekar's personality?
Mehta described Patekar as spontaneous, humorous with a straight face, and possessed of a sharp sense of repartee. He also noted that Patekar was 'a little finicky' and called him 'a very interesting person.'
Which films did Dr Mickey Mehta reference while praising Nana Patekar?
Mehta specifically mentioned Welcome, the 2007 Bollywood comedy, as an example of Patekar's range as a comedian. He also praised Patekar's versatility as a dramatic lead, villain, and supporting actor across his career.
