CM Fadnavis mourns Nana Patekar, calls loss 'a great blow'
Synopsis
Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis offered a heartfelt tribute to actor and close friend Nana Patekar, mourning his sudden passing, celebrating his unmatched screen legacy from Krantiveer to Natsamrat, and honouring his humanitarian work for farmers through the NAAM Foundation.
Key Takeaways
Nana Patekar , veteran actor and close friend of CM Devendra Fadnavis , passed away suddenly, as announced by Fadnavis on October 8, 2026 .
Fadnavis described the loss as 'a tremendous shock' and said his heart is 'profoundly saddened.' He praised Patekar's career arc from Krantiveer to Natsamrat as 'unmatched in power and craft' across both Marathi and Hindi cinema.
Patekar co-founded the NAAM Foundation with actor Makarand Anaspure to support farmers, backing the government's Jalayukta Shivar Abhiyan water-conservation drive.
Fadnavis noted Patekar was always at the forefront of drought relief efforts and would have been again this year.
The Chief Minister extended condolences to Patekar's family and fans, closing with Om Shanti .
A curtain has fallen that Maharashtra did not see coming. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday, October 8, 2026, paid a deeply personal tribute to veteran actor Nana Patekar, describing his sudden passing as a shock that has left him 'profoundly grief-stricken' — and remembering not just the screen legend, but the quietly compassionate man he knew away from the cameras.
Fadnavis wrote in Marathi: 'ज्येष्ठ अभिनेते आणि माझे निकटचे मित्र नाना पाटेकर यांची अशी अकाली आणि अचानक एक्झिट मनाला मोठा धक्का देणारी आहे.' ('The untimely and sudden exit of senior actor and my close friend Nana Patekar has given my heart a tremendous shock. My heart is deeply saddened.')
From 'Krantiveer' to 'Natsamrat' — a career without parallel
Fadnavis described Patekar as an actor who gave both Marathi and Hindi cinema an entire era. The Chief Minister singled out the arc from the firebreathing patriot of Krantiveer to the tragic theatrical colossus of Natsamrat as a body of work 'unmatched in its power and craft.' The image of a fierce nationalist, he noted, was the one that audiences took home and kept. As an actor, Fadnavis said, Patekar's departure is 'a great loss.'The NAAM Foundation and Jalayukta Shivar — a friendship built in the field
The tribute goes beyond cinema. Fadnavis recalled that when his government launched the Jalayukta Shivar Abhiyan — the flagship water-conservation drive aimed at making Maharashtra drought-free — Patekar stepped forward without being asked. Alongside actor Makarand Anaspure, Patekar co-founded the NAAM Foundation, rolled up his sleeves, and went village-to-village into the shivars (farmlands) to work alongside farmers. During drought years, he was consistently at the front of relief efforts. Fadnavis wrote: 'Even this year, as we face drought, Nana would never have stood back — but he has suddenly left us.' The line carries the particular ache of a loss that arrived before the next season of work could begin.The softer side the Chief Minister saw up close
Patekar was publicly known for his bluntness and fearlessness — qualities Fadnavis said 'lit up his personality.' But the Chief Minister offered a less-seen portrait: 'Since I became Chief Minister, I have always seen the tender, sensitive man in him.' It is the kind of detail only a genuine friend notices — the gap between the roaring screen presence and the quiet human being behind it. Fadnavis concluded with a heartfelt condolence to Patekar's family and fans: 'We share in the grief of his family and admirers. Om Shanti 🙏' Nana Patekar leaves behind a filmography that spans decades, a humanitarian legacy rooted in Maharashtra's drought-hit heartland, and — by the Chief Minister's own account — a friendship that will be missed long after the applause fades.Point of View
Which aligned closely with his own Jalayukta Shivar Abhiyan policy, loses a powerful non-governmental champion at a moment when drought pressures remain acute. The loss also highlights the broader pattern of Maharashtra's entertainment community engaging directly with agrarian distress, a tradition that carries real political and social weight in the state. Whether the NAAM Foundation sustains its momentum without Patekar's personal galvanising force is now an open question.
NationPress
8 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Nana Patekar?
Nana Patekar was a highly acclaimed veteran actor celebrated for powerful performances in both Marathi and Hindi cinema, with iconic roles in films such as Krantiveer and Natsamrat. He was also known for his humanitarian work supporting farmers in Maharashtra through the NAAM Foundation.
What is the NAAM Foundation started by Nana Patekar?
The NAAM Foundation is a non-profit organisation co-founded by Nana Patekar and actor Makarand Anaspure to provide relief to farmers in drought-affected regions of Maharashtra. It worked alongside the Maharashtra government's Jalayukta Shivar Abhiyan water-conservation initiative.
What is Jalayukta Shivar Abhiyan?
Jalayukta Shivar Abhiyan is a flagship water-conservation scheme launched by the Maharashtra government, aimed at making villages water-sufficient and reducing the impact of droughts on farmers. Nana Patekar was among its earliest and most prominent non-governmental supporters.
What did CM Devendra Fadnavis say about Nana Patekar?
CM Fadnavis called Patekar his close friend and said his sudden passing has given him 'a tremendous shock.' He praised Patekar's unmatched acting legacy, his blunt and fearless personality, and the sensitive side he witnessed personally, particularly through their shared work on farmer welfare.
What films is Nana Patekar most remembered for?
Nana Patekar is most remembered for Krantiveer, in which he played a fierce nationalist, and Natsamrat, a landmark Marathi film in which he portrayed a tragic theatrical legend. CM Fadnavis described this journey as a body of acting work 'unmatched in power and craft.'
