Nana Patekar’s Autopsy Confirms Heart Attack at 75

Autopsy confirms the cause

Nana Patekar died after a blood clot blocked his left main coronary artery, doctors at Goa Medical College and Hospital confirmed on Sunday. The 75-year-old actor was declared dead at 5:10 am on October 8 at a private hospital near Panaji, ending a screen journey that began with Gaman in 1978.

In the early hours, Patekar’s caretaker had requested an ambulance because the actor felt unwell. The hospital was within a kilometre of his Dona Paula apartment, but doctors could not revive him despite 45 minutes of cardiopulmonary resuscitation. They had earlier suspected a heart attack.

The post-mortem report recorded the cause as “acute myocardial infarction due to left main coronary artery thrombosis,” a natural death. The left main coronary artery supplies blood to a large part of the heart, which is why a clot there can turn fatal so quickly.

A performer who could do everything

Patekar moved from Marathi theatre to films in 1978 and spent nearly five decades shifting between intense drama, vulnerability, menace and comedy. That range made him one of Hindi cinema’s most distinctive actors, and it kept him busy into his seventies.

His list of honours tells the story:

• Three National Film Awards
• Several Filmfare wins
• Padma Shri
• Recent films such as The Vaccine War, Vanvaas, Housefull 5 and O’Romeo

For fans, he was the actor who could make a scene uncomfortable or hilarious without breaking a sweat, and that is not an easy balance to find.

The final journey from Goa to Pune

Patekar’s body was flown from Goa to Pune and then taken to the family farmhouse in Donje village, where last rites were held later that night. He was cremated with full state honours.

Among those present were Maharashtra Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Sunetra Pawar, Union ministers Ramdas Athawale and Murlidhar Mohol, actors Jackie Shroff, Makarand Anaspure and Pravin Tarde, and several figures from Bollywood, politics and sports.

Malhar Patekar on the same-day cremation and the Naam Foundation

Malhar Patekar, who flew to Goa to bring his father home, explained why the family did not delay the last rites. He said considerable time had already passed since the tragedy took place early that morning, so they decided to perform the cremation the same day.

He also spoke about carrying his father’s legacy forward through the Naam Foundation, which works in water conservation, education and healthcare. It is a quiet sequel to a loud, full life — and one fans will be watching.

Source: India Today