Nana Patekar Remembered: Sanjay Gupta, Anupam Kher, Manoj Bajpayee and More Pay Emotional Tributes

The Indian film industry is struggling to come to terms with the loss of veteran actor Nana Patekar, with some of the biggest names from cinema remembering the actor through deeply personal tributes. From calling him a mentor and elder brother to crediting his journey with inspiring an entire generation of aspiring actors, filmmakers and performers have been reflecting on the extraordinary impact Patekar had both on screen and in their lives. Sanjay Gupta, Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri, Manoj Bajpayee, Anil Sharma and Anupam Kher were among those who shared emotional messages following his passing.

Filmmaker Sanjay Gupta’s tribute was particularly personal as he remembered Patekar not simply as an actor, but as someone who had played multiple important roles in his own life. Gupta wrote, “The purest heart I’ve ever known in the film industry stopped most unexpectedly this morning. And my heart is broken into a million pieces. My friend, my mentor, my elder brother. The finest actor I ever worked with is gone. My Dearest Nana you will be forever missed. Om Shanti.” His words reflected the deep personal bond they shared and the profound sense of loss felt by someone who considered Patekar both a mentor and family.

Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri chose a different, characteristically irreverent way to say goodbye to the legendary actor, imagining Patekar continuing to challenge artists even beyond this life. He wrote, “Nana, Artists like you never die. Go, Nana, make their life hell in Heaven. Tell them they ain’t writing good characters and scripts these days.” Beneath the humour was a tribute to Patekar’s uncompromising relationship with his craft—a performer who was never afraid to demand more from the characters and stories around him.

For Manoj Bajpayee, Nana Patekar’s legacy was deeply connected to the dreams of countless outsiders who arrived in Mumbai hoping to make a place for themselves in cinema. He wrote, “Shocking! Still cannot believe Nana Patekar ji is no more. For so many of us who came to Mumbai hoping to find a place in films, his journey gave us hope. He made you believe that your craft, your individuality and being true to who you are could be enough to make your own place. We have lost one of our finest actors. You will be deeply missed, Nana ji. Om Shanti.” Bajpayee’s tribute captured perhaps one of the most important aspects of Patekar’s career: he never needed to fit into a conventional mould to become a major force in Indian cinema.

Filmmaker Anil Sharma also mourned Patekar, remembering him not only as a great actor but as a human being and social worker. He wrote, “Dil bhar aaya hai .. speech less hard to express my sorrow for this great soul depart .. great actor .. grater human being .. ek mahan samaj sevi .. aur parivar ka hissa .. shat shat naman”. His words added another dimension to the tributes pouring in, remembering the man whose contribution extended beyond films and performances.

Among the most heartbreaking tributes came from Anupam Kher, who recalled learning about Patekar’s death immediately after completing a stage performance. Kher wrote, “NANA PATEKAR THE GREATEST? A couple of hours ago, I received the heartbreaking news that my friend Nana Patekar, one of the finest actors and human beings in Indian cinema, is no more. I had just finished our performance and taken the curtain call. As I walked into the wings, my director Gajendra told me, ‘Nana is no more.’ After that, I had to meet people, pose for photographs, smile, sit down for a meal… while trying to absorb what I had just heard. It was terribly difficult.”

Kher went on to recall that somewhere he felt Nana would have wanted him to finish his work and fulfil his responsibility to the audience who had come to see him perform. He then imagined Patekar dismissing the very idea of a conventional tribute in his unmistakably direct manner: “Are, Toh Kya Ho Gaya? Mar Gaya Toh Kaun Si Badi Baat Hai? Sabhi Marte Hai”. Kher remembered his friend as someone direct and unpretentious, before adding, “I will miss you, my friend. Your warmth. Your hugs. Your extraordinary performances. And whenever I miss seeing you, I will watch your films. Though today, I wish I could simply hug you one more time.”

Together, these tributes paint an extraordinary portrait of Nana Patekar beyond the characters audiences knew on screen. To Sanjay Gupta, he was a mentor and elder brother. To Manoj Bajpayee, he was proof that individuality and craft could create a place in an unforgiving industry. To Anupam Kher, he was a dear friend whose warmth and performances would continue to live through cinema. And to countless audiences, he was simply Nana Patekar—an actor impossible to imitate and impossible to forget. As the industry says goodbye, his films, his words and the memories of those who knew him will ensure that his presence continues to endure.