Mukesh Rishi remembers Nana Patekar: discipline, Rajma, and ₹100 birthday gift
Synopsis
Nana Patekar is gone at 75, and it is actor Mukesh Rishi's small, unhurried memories — a ₹100 birthday gift, a Rajma cook-off, a door always kept open — that capture something the reel footage cannot: the man behind the intensity.
Key Takeaways
Nana Patekar passed away on 8 October 2026 at the age of 75 in Goa following a cardiac arrest .
Doctors attempted CPR and resuscitation for approximately 45 minutes ; he was declared dead on arrival at hospital.
Actor Mukesh Rishi recalled their bond during the shoot of 'Kohram' in Jammu's Katra region.
Patekar gifted Rishi ₹100 on his birthday, a gesture Rishi described as emblematic of Patekar's unaffected warmth.
Rishi highlighted Patekar's strict discipline on set — punctuality, no time wastage — as a defining professional quality.
Patekar lived in his village, was known for maintaining good health, and was described by Rishi as 'a man of nature.'
Actor Mukesh Rishi, recently seen in the streaming series 'Salakaar', has shared his warmest personal memories of working with the late acting legend Nana Patekar, recalling a man as disciplined and grounded off-screen as he was intense on it. Rishi's tribute came following Patekar's death on Thursday, 8 October 2026, at the age of 75 in Goa, after suffering a cardiac arrest.
A Bond Forged on the Sets of Kohram
Rishi recalled that one of his most enduring shared experiences with Patekar was the film 'Kohram', which was shot in Jammu's Katra region. The two actors stayed in the same hotel during the shoot, and it was there that Rishi witnessed a side of Patekar rarely seen by audiences.
'He was not just an actor, he was also a great man. After the shooting, he used to live like a normal man,' Rishi said. The simplicity, he noted, was not performative — it was habitual.
The Birthday Gift That Said It All
Among the memories Rishi shared, one stood out for its warmth and understated generosity. On his birthday, Rishi visited Patekar's room — the door, characteristically, was kept open. Patekar wished him, then paused and handed him ₹100, saying simply, 'This is your gift.'
Rishi's wife, who would sometimes cook for the unit, once offered to make Rajma for Patekar. His response was characteristically spirited: 'You make it your way, I will make it my way.' Rishi reflected, 'Acting is fine, but when such a strong human side comes in front of you, he becomes yours.'
Nana Patekar's Fierce Sense of Discipline
Rishi noted that Patekar's exacting standards on set — which sometimes came across as irritability — were rooted in a deep commitment to professionalism. 'Come on time, start the film on time, and don't waste time,' was the philosophy Rishi attributed to him.
Drawing a parallel with his own experience working in the South Indian film industry, Rishi said that the same culture of punctuality and respect for the unit's time exists there, and that it brings genuine harmony to a production. He suggested Patekar's discipline came from a similar place of deep regard for the craft and the people around him.
A Man of Nature, a Man of Himself
Beyond cinema, Rishi described Patekar as someone who lived close to the earth — residing in his village, taking care of his body, and being mindful of his health. 'He was healthy. He took care of his body. He knew what oxygen he needed. He used to live in his village, and work from there. He was a man of nature. He lived like himself,' Rishi said.
Patekar, who suffered a cardiac arrest, was taken to hospital where doctors reportedly attempted CPR and resuscitation for approximately 45 minutes. He was later declared dead on arrival. He was 75 years old.
'These numbers don't matter. That man himself matters,' Rishi said, in a quiet final tribute to one of Hindi cinema's most formidable presences.
Point of View
But Rishi's account avoids that entirely — it is specific, unhurried, and quietly revealing. The ₹100 birthday gift and the Rajma debate tell you more about Patekar's character than a dozen obituary adjectives. What emerges is a portrait of a man who treated simplicity and discipline not as virtues to perform, but as defaults to live by — a rarity in an industry built on projection. The comparison Rishi draws to South Indian film culture is a pointed, underplayed observation: that professionalism in Indian cinema is unevenly distributed, and Patekar belonged to a vanishing school of it.
NationPress
8 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How did Nana Patekar die?
Nana Patekar died on 8 October 2026 in Goa after suffering a cardiac arrest at the age of 75. Doctors attempted CPR and resuscitation for approximately 45 minutes before he was declared dead on arrival at hospital.
What film did Mukesh Rishi and Nana Patekar do together?
'Kohram' is the film Mukesh Rishi specifically recalled in his tribute. The two actors shared a hotel during the shoot, which took place in Jammu's Katra region, and it was during that period that their personal bond deepened.
What did Mukesh Rishi say about Nana Patekar's discipline?
Rishi said Patekar had an exceptionally strong sense of discipline — he insisted on punctuality, an on-time shoot start, and zero time wastage. Rishi compared this ethos to the culture he observed in the South Indian film industry.
What personal memory did Mukesh Rishi share about Nana Patekar?
Rishi recalled that on his birthday, Patekar — whose room door was always open — gifted him ₹100 with the words 'This is your gift.' He also shared how his wife would cook for Patekar during the shoot, and how Patekar would respond with characteristic playfulness.
What is Mukesh Rishi currently known for?
Mukesh Rishi was recently seen in the streaming series 'Salakaar'. He is a veteran actor known for his work in both Hindi and South Indian cinema.
