THE GOAN
PANAJI
“We all have to go someday. I don't know whether I will be here tomorrow or not.”
At the event where he said this, the words were merely his thoughts on life, death, and the limited time we have. Today, with the actor no longer here, the same words are heard differently. Goa, a place Patekar had made a part of his life over the years, was also where he spent his final days.
A Goa connection
As news of the veteran actor’s demise spread, Goa too woke up to the shock of losing someone who had made the State a part of his life. Beyond being where he breathed his last, Goa was more than a backdrop for Patekar. Over the years, he owned a home in Dona Paula, spent weeks here, and appeared at several public events, speaking about the State with familiarity. Goa became a place where Patekar spent much of his personal time. In an interview, he spoke about having a house in Goa and moving between his homes, sometimes staying for weeks at a time. He also spoke of his attachment to the sea, adding that he sometimes wrote while sitting by the sea. Patekar was a familiar face at IFFI in Panaji. His association with the State was not limited to film festivals. He took part in local events; he also spoke about the work of Naam Foundation and its plans in Goa involving water conservation, agriculture and animal husbandry at an educational institution. These appearances added to a relationship with the state that had grown beyond simply owning a home here.
Goa on screen
The connection was also visible in his films. The Pool, directed by Chris Smith and shot in and around Panaji in 2007, featured Patekar as a wealthy homeowner and went on to win a Special Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival. In Ab Tak Chhappan 2, his character Sadhu Agashe is shown living a quiet retired life in Goa with his son. Patekar later returned to Goa for Wedding Anniversary, which was shot in locations including Calangute and Candolim, where he played an eccentric writer opposite Mahie Gill. Tadka, directed by Prakash Raj, was also shot extensively across Goa, with Patekar playing a food- and music-loving archaeologist. More recently, The Confession was shot in locations including Bastora, Goa Velha and Mapusa.
For an actor whose career took him across the country, Goa remained one of the places that stayed personally significant. It appeared on his film sets, in the stories he acted in, in his public life and in the quieter spaces where he chose to spend his time. For many in Goa, his presence had also become familiar, beyond the screen and film sets.
Final days
That connection came into sharper focus in his final days. On October 4, Patekar attended a ceremony in Dona Paula, where he recalled his friendship with former Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar and was seen playing a shamel, a Goan folk instrument. Four days later, on October 8, Patekar died at his Goa residence at the age of 75. The State that had been a part of his life for years was also where his life came to an end.
Tributes pour in
Patekar’s death also drew condolences from across the country. President Droupadi Murmu described his performances as powerful and evocative and recalled his commitment to social service, while Prime Minister Narendra Modi remembered his versatility, creativity and unforgettable characters. Union Minister Nitin Gadkari also mourned his death, remembering their close friendship. Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, who described Patekar as a close friend, recalled that the actor would personally call him whenever he was in Goa. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi remembered his contribution to Indian cinema, while Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge recalled his concern for farmers and the underprivileged.
In the end, Goa was not simply another location in Nana Patekar’s long career. From his home and time by the sea to his films, public appearances, and social work, it had become a familiar part of his life, and eventually, his second home.
