US, Oct. 9 -- In Indian cinema, there are a few artists whom it would be an injustice to describe merely as actors. Nana Patekar was one such rare personality. He was an actor, theatre artist, director, and writer; a sensitive citizen deeply connected to social causes; and an individual whose respect and commitment to the Indian armed forces were remarkable.

His voice carried a distinctive roughness, his dialogues had an edge, his eyes reflected anger and intensity, and his face seemed to bear the truth of life's struggles. He never treated acting as a decorative art; instead, he connected it with the realities of human life, pain, struggle, sensitivity, and social consciousness.

With his passing at 75 on October 8, 2026, Indian cinema...