Randeep Hooda on Nana Patekar: 'In Parinda, I thought I was watching a real person'
Synopsis
Randeep Hooda's Instagram tribute to Nana Patekar captures something rarely said so plainly in Bollywood — that the late actor's 1989 Parinda performance felt more real than acting itself. With Patekar gone at 75, Indian cinema has lost one of its most authentically fearless performers, a man colleagues described as wearing his heart on his sleeve both on screen and off.
Key Takeaways
Nana Patekar passed away on 8 October in Goa at the age of 75 , confirmed by Manipal Hospital, Goa .
He was found unconscious at his Dona Paula, Goa residence and was declared brought dead at the hospital.
Randeep Hooda paid tribute on Instagram, calling him 'an inferno of talent' and 'a one-of-a-kind actor and human being.' Hooda cited Nana's role in the 1989 crime thriller Parinda , directed by Vidhu Vinod Chopra , as transformative.
Nana Patekar's career spanned over four decades , from his debut in Gaman (1978) to his final appearance in Subedaar .
Actor Randeep Hooda paid a heartfelt tribute to the late Nana Patekar on 8 October 2026, recalling how the veteran actor's iconic performance in the 1989 crime thriller Parinda left him convinced he was watching a real human being — not an actor performing a role. Nana Patekar, one of Indian cinema's most revered performers, passed away at the age of 75 in Goa on 8 October, sending shockwaves through the Hindi and Marathi film industries.
Hooda's Tribute on Instagram
Randeep Hooda took to Instagram to share a series of images of Nana Patekar from his younger years, accompanied by a deeply personal note. In his caption, Hooda wrote: 'When I first saw him in Parinda I didn't think I was watching an actor. I thought I was watching a real person. When I met him years later, that feeling stayed with me.'
He continued: 'He was exactly that, a real person who wore his heart on his sleeve and not just a pretentious actor. Saddened and shocked by the loss of a one-of-a-kind actor and human being. Honest, fearless and always true to himself. An arresting actor, a towering personality, and an inferno of talent. Rest in peace, Nana sir. You will be deeply missed. Om Shanti.'
The Legacy of Parinda
Parinda, directed by Vidhu Vinod Chopra, is a landmark in Indian crime cinema. The film's story is loosely inspired by the Marlon Brando starrer On the Waterfront, following brothers on opposite sides of an underworld gang war. Alongside Nana Patekar, the cast featured Jackie Shroff, Anil Kapoor, and Madhuri Dixit. Nana's portrayal of the menacing underworld chieftain Anna remains among the most celebrated villain performances in Bollywood history, and it was this role that clearly left a permanent impression on Hooda.
A Career Spanning Four Decades
Nana Patekar made his Hindi film debut with Gaman in 1978, going on to build a career over more than four decades. His breakthrough performances in Salaam Bombay! and Parinda established his reputation as an actor of formidable intensity. He subsequently delivered acclaimed work in Angaar, Tirangaa, Krantiveer, Agni Sakshi, Khamoshi: The Musical, Yeshwant, Ab Tak Chhappan, Apaharan, and Raajneeti, among others. He was equally celebrated in Marathi cinema, making him a figure of rare cross-industry stature.
His final screen appearance was in Subedaar, directed by Suresh Triveni, in which he played Lance Naik Nana Waghmare alongside Anil Kapoor, Radhika Madan, and several others.
Circumstances of His Passing
Nana Patekar was found unconscious at his residence in Dona Paula, Goa, and was rushed to Manipal Hospital, Goa. Doctors declared him brought dead, according to a statement issued by the hospital. The sudden nature of his death shocked colleagues and fans across the country. Randeep Hooda's tribute is among the earliest from the film fraternity, underscoring how deeply Nana's craft had moved those who worked in the same profession.
As condolences pour in from across Indian cinema, Nana Patekar's body of work — spanning decades and genres — stands as an enduring measure of what fearless, authentic acting can achieve.
Point of View
But a radical erasure of the boundary between actor and human being. That quality is rare in any era of cinema, and rarer still across both Hindi and Marathi industries simultaneously. Mainstream coverage will focus on the filmography; what deserves equal attention is the consistency of character his contemporaries describe off-screen — fearless, honest, unaffected by industry politics. Indian cinema does not produce many performers of that particular moral texture, and Patekar's passing at 75, still working in Subedaar, is a reminder of how few such careers are built.
NationPress
8 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How did Nana Patekar die?
Nana Patekar was found unconscious at his residence in Dona Paula, Goa, on 8 October and was rushed to Manipal Hospital, Goa, where doctors declared him brought dead. He was 75 years old.
What did Randeep Hooda say about Nana Patekar?
Randeep Hooda posted on Instagram that when he first saw Nana Patekar in the 1989 film Parinda, he did not think he was watching an actor — he felt he was watching a real person. He described Patekar as 'an inferno of talent' and 'a one-of-a-kind actor and human being.'
What was Nana Patekar's role in Parinda?
Nana Patekar played the underworld chieftain Anna in Parinda, a 1989 crime thriller directed by Vidhu Vinod Chopra. The film also starred Jackie Shroff, Anil Kapoor, and Madhuri Dixit, and is considered a landmark in Indian crime cinema.
What was Nana Patekar's last film?
Nana Patekar's last screen appearance was in Subedaar, directed by Suresh Triveni, in which he played Lance Naik Nana Waghmare alongside Anil Kapoor, Radhika Madan, and others.
What is Nana Patekar's legacy in Indian cinema?
Nana Patekar had a career spanning over four decades, debuting with Gaman in 1978. He became one of the most respected actors in both Hindi and Marathi cinema, known for powerful performances in films such as Salaam Bombay!, Krantiveer, Ab Tak Chhappan, and Raajneeti.
