Nana Patekar, the actor whose intensity reshaped Hindi and Marathi cinema, died on October 8 at his Goa residence after a cardiac arrest. He was 75. Within hours, tributes from across the industry began to surface, each adding a small detail to the public record of the man — and among them was Hema Malini’s account of a missed call.
A call that never connected
Malini told IANS that Patekar had reached out to her only days before his death. The two had spoken recently, and then there was another call about a week before he died — one she could not answer because she was travelling.
“He rang a few days back. He spoke to me also. Just about a week back also I had one call, I think. But somehow I missed because I was travelling. So, when I heard today, I was shocked,” she said.
The detail matters because the two actors, who never shared screen space, had maintained a respectful off-screen bond. Patekar had once told Malini she was his favourite actress in classic cinema; Malini, in turn, said she loved watching his films and his “unique approach” to roles.
An institution, not just a performer
Malini’s tribute framed Patekar as more than a screen presence. “He himself was an institution for acting,” she said, noting his contribution to both Hindi and Marathi film industries.
Her recollection also highlighted his work away from sets:
- He ran the Naam Foundation, which focused on farmers and the underprivileged.
- He left a body of work across Hindi and Marathi films in a range of roles.
- He admired Malini’s work, showing the quiet connections between veterans of his generation.
That combination — a formidable actor and a public-minded figure — is why his passing has been felt as a cultural loss rather than a routine obituary notice. The timing of the call, and the fact that it went unanswered, has become a small but arresting part of the collective mourning. In an industry where screen pairings define public memory, the absence of a Patekar-Malini film is a curious footnote; their admiration existed entirely off-screen.
Final rites and the record that remains
Patekar’s last rites were held with state honours at his farmhouse in Donje, Pune. His son Malhar lit the funeral pyre, with family, colleagues and political dignitaries in attendance; Jackie Shroff, Sajid Nadiadwala and filmmaker Anil Sharma were among those present.
For Hindi cinema’s audience, the most direct response is to return to the films. Patekar’s performances, often built on restraint that could turn explosive, remain the best record of why Malini called him an institution.
Source: News18
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