PANAJI — Expressing deep personal sorrow over the sudden passing of veteran actor and filmmaker Nana Patekar, Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant paid rich tributes to the multi-talented artist, remembering him as a close personal friend and a dedicated social worker who held a special bond with Goa.
Patekar passed away early Thursday morning at 75 after suffering a severe cardiac arrest at his residence in Goa. Emergency medical teams at Manipal Hospital attempted CPR for 45 minutes, but were unable to revive him.
A Cherished Personal Connection
Chief Minister Sawant shared that he maintained a warm, personal relationship with Patekar, who made it a point to connect with him whenever he was in the state.
“He was a good friend. Every time he would come to Goa, he would personally call me,” Sawant told NDTV. “I am with the family in this moment of grief. I have lost a good friend.”
Sawant noted that Patekar had attended an event in Goa just four days prior, which the Chief Minister was also slated to join before being held up by prior commitments. Recalling a recent video of Patekar cheerfully dancing with young Konkani artistes just two days ago, Sawant reflected on the actor’s vibrant spirit and warmth.
Building a Lasting Social Footprint in Goa
Beyond his legendary screen presence, Chief Minister Sawant emphasized that Patekar’s heart was deeply invested in community service. Through the Naam Foundation, the actor had actively initiated social causes across Maharashtra and was actively planning to scale up development and social work in Goa.
“He was involved in a lot of social work in Goa through his foundation. He was planning to expand his social work in Goa. It’s sad that he has left us,” Sawant said, adding that Patekar will be remembered as much for being a “good human being” as for his art.
Celebrating His Cinematic Genius
While acknowledging his massive body of work in Hindi cinema, Sawant paid tribute to Patekar’s profound influence on regional cinema, particularly pointing to his iconic, award-winning performance in the Marathi classic ‘Natsamrat’.
Concluding his tribute, Chief Minister Sawant assured that the state would support Patekar’s family during this painful period, declaring that “Nana will be in the heart of Goans forever.”
