4 min readOct 8, 2026 06:45 PM IST
Few actors have been able to make menace, vulnerability, rage and humour coexist quite like Nana Patekar. Over a career spanning over five decades, he has moved effortlessly between arthouse and mainstream cinema, playing characters as varied as a ruthless don in Parinda, a disillusioned theatre legend in Natsamrat and the hilarious Uday Shetty in Welcome. Whether playing a villain, a hero, a cop, a soldier or a comic gangster, Patekar has brought an unmistakable intensity to the screen.
Here are 10 performances that capture his remarkable range as one of Indian cinema’s distinctive actors:
Nana Patekar in Salaam Bombay. (Express archive photo)
Salaam Bombay (1988): In this Oscar-nominated movie, director Mira Nair’s debut feature, Nana Patekar plays Baba Golub, a manipulative drug dealer and pimp operating in Mumbai’s red light area. His raw portrayal of Baba, who exploits children and women ruthlessly, was crucial to this gritty tale about the city’s underbelly.
Suresh Oberoi, Nana Patekar and Anil Kapoor in Parinda. (Express archive photo)
Parinda (1989): Patekar won his first National Film Award for Best Supporting Actor for playing the role of Anna Seth, a cold-blooded underworld don. He delivered a chilling performance as a crime lord, who kills Karan (Anil Kapoor) and Paro (Madhuri Dixit) on their wedding night.
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Nana Patekar and Dimple Kapadia in Prahaar. (Express archive photo)
Prahaar: The Final Attack (1991): This marked Patekar’s impressive directorial debut. He also plays the film’s central character Major VS Chavan, who imparts commando training and later takes a stand against injustice. To make his portrayal convincing, he underwent rigorous military training for the film, which he also co-wrote.
Paresh Rawal, Nana Patekar and Atul Agnihotri in Krantiveer. (Photo by K. Krishna)
Krantiveer (1994): For this high-intensity performance in this blockbuster, Patekar won the National Film Award for Best Actor. He plays Pratap who, after being disowned by his family, finds a benefactor in Laxminath (Paresh Rawal), a landlord. However, when Laxminath is murdered, Pratap vows to avenge him. He also fights against corruption, underworld dons and religious polarisation.
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Jackie Shroff and Nana Patekar in Agni Sakshi. (Express archive photo)
Agni Sakshi (1996): In this suspense thriller, Patekar plays a wealthy businessman who is the obsessive and abusive former husband of Shivangi (Manisha Koirala). What makes his character menacing are his unpredictable mood swings — making quick switch from being charming to extremely angry. He won his second National Film Award for Best Supporting Actor for this.
Also Read – Celebrities pay tribute to Nana Patekar
Seema Biswas and Nana Patekar in Khamoshi. (Express archive photo)
Khamoshi: The Musical (1996): In Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s directorial debut, he delivers a compelling performance as a hearing and speech-impaired man, who is protective about his daughter Annie (Manisha Koirala).
Nana Patekar in Ab Tak Chhappan. (Express archive photo)
Ab Tak Chhappan (2004): In this acclaimed movie directed by Shimit Amin, Patekar played a senior encounter specialist in the Mumbai Police force with intensity. The movie showcases his famous dialogue-delivery skills as well as a riveting performance as a tough cop and a loving husband.
Anil Kapoor and Nana Patekar in Welcome. (Express archive photo)
Welcome (2007): Patekar found a separate fanbase for playing the good-hearted gangster Uday Shetty in this comedy and its sequel Welcome Back (2015). The character’s internal monologue — “Control Uday, control!” — as he tries to calm himself, has become a popular Bollywood quote.
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Natsamrat (2016): In the play Natsamrat, Patekar played Ganpat “Appa” Belwalkar, an ageing, legendary theatre actor. In its cinematic adaptation, he plays the eccentric and outspoken actor, who finds it tough to cope with everyday life after he retires from the theatre.
Kaala (2018): Patekar was pitted against Rajinikanth in this action drama. He plays the antagonist Hari Dada who clashes with Karikalan “Kaala” (Rajinikanth) as he tries own the land owned by migrants from Tamil Nadu.
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