Veteran Indian actor Nana Patekar, wey many know for im intense performances and distinct dialogue delivery, don die at di age of 75 for Goa. Im son Malhar tell BBC Marathi.
Dem rush am go hospital after dem find am unconscious for im house for Goa for early hours of Thursday. Dr Shekhar Salkar of Manipal Hospital for Goa tell ANI say despite 45 minutes of continuous CPR, dem no fit revive am.
On Thursday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi lead tributes to di actor, as e praise Patekar versatility and outspoken personality. Modi write on X say di characters Patekar play go remain etched for memory of generations, and im death leave a vast void for di artistic world.
Bollywood star Akshay Kumar, wey appear alongside Patekar for di comedy film Welcome, remember am as rare performer whose voice, intensity and honesty fit command audience attention.
Patekar make im debut with di film Gaman for 1978 and continue to play smaller roles for several films. But di intensity wey he bring on screen hard to miss, and soon he land a role for Parinda for 1989, making am a household name across India.
He win im first National Film Award and Filmfare Award too for im portrayal of di gangster Anna for di film. He no look back after this and play many memorable characters for several films through di 1990s.
Di range of characters he play show di depth of im acting talent and mastery over im craft. Im portrayal of Major Chauhan for Prahaar, a film wey he also direct, win am praise. Im other characters, including di patriotic hero of Tirangaa and Pratap Narayan Tilak for Krantiveer, also win am accolades.
Just when critics think say playing loud characters na im mainstay, he prove dem wrong by delivering a mesmerising performance for Khamoshi as a person wey no fit hear or talk. Director Prakash Jha Rajneeti for 2010 add another dimension to im acting as im portrayal of an astute politician delivered with perfection.
Di breadth of Patekar career show di wide range of im work. He play different but contrasting roles like notorious gangster or policeman with equal ease. He also sometimes work behind di camera as director and writer. Im three national awards for Parinda, Krantiveer and Agni Sakshi also testament to im wide-ranging career.
Patekar also be influential figure for both Marathi and Hindi theatre. Before he make im debut for films, he dey involved for theatre, where he develop im gritty style of dialogue delivery and master di intensity wey he bring to im on-screen characters. Purush and Hamidabai Chi Kothi na two of im most famous plays. Despite being successful for films, he remain active for theatre throughout im professional life.
Patekar also known for im activism and no dey mince words when e criticise di government of di day. He direct, almost brazen and unapologetic, when e criticise ministers and their policies, and e do am quite publicly. Issues related to farmers especially close to im heart. Im work also go beyond just giving statements. For 2015, he and actor Makarand Anaspure establish Naam Foundation, wey don work on farmer welfare and water conservation for Maharashtra.
But im career no without controversies. For 2018, allegations of sexual harassment wey actor Tanushree Dutta make against Patekar over an alleged incident on a film set a decade earlier help spark India #MeToo movement. Patekar deny di allegations. For 2019, dem clear am of di charges after police say dem no find sufficient evidence against am.
