Pankaj Tripathi Mourns Nana Patekar, Recalls His Guidance on Acting and Life

In a statement, Tripathi described Patekar's passing as a deeply personal loss and recalled working with him in the 2018 film *Kaala*.

"Nana ji’s passing is an incredibly painful loss for our entire fraternity; it's a deeply personal loss for me. I had the privilege of sharing screen space with him in *Kaala*, and that experience will always remain very special to me," Tripathi said.

He recalled Patekar not only as a co-actor but also as someone who offered guidance on acting, the craft and decisions in life.

"I learned a lot just by watching him and listening to him. His guidance meant a great deal to me. For me, this feels like losing a Guru," Tripathi said, adding that Patekar's lessons and body of work would continue to inspire actors for generations.

Tripathi also reflected on what he considered Patekar's distinctive strength as a performer, saying the veteran actor could completely immerse himself in a character while still leaving a lasting impression on audiences.

"What made Nana ji truly extraordinary was his ability to disappear into a character while still leaving an indelible mark of his own," he said.

According to Tripathi, Patekar's contribution to Indian cinema extended beyond the films in which he appeared, influencing how generations of performers approached their craft.

Calling Patekar's death "the end of an era", Tripathi said Indian cinema had lost one of its most distinctive voices and accomplished performers.

"But artists like Nana ji never really leave us. They live on through their work, through the characters they created and through the generations of actors they continue to inspire. His legacy will remain eternal," he said.

Tripathi and Patekar appeared together in *Kaala*, the 2018 Tamil action drama directed and co-written by Pa. Ranjith and produced by Dhanush. The film starred Rajinikanth in the lead role, with Patekar, Huma Qureshi, Eswari Rao and Samuthirakani among the other key cast members.

Nana Patekar died on October 8. He was reportedly found unconscious at his residence in Goa after experiencing severe chest discomfort.