Nana Patekar played a wide variety of roles in films, but there was an aspect of his life that was completely distinct from the world of cinema. Alongside establishing a unique identity in acting, Nana Patekar was also a national-level shooter and had even won a medal.
Nana Patekar Was a National-Level Shooter Too, Won a Medal at 53
Nana Patekar is no more. He passed away in Goa this morning at the age of 75. Nana Patekar is counted among those Hindi cinema actors who carved a distinct niche for themselves through their acting. However, few people know that, in addition to his brilliant acting, he was also an expert marksman. He participated in state and national-level shooting competitions and even won a medal at the national championship.
Started Shooting After the Age of 40
Interestingly, Nana Patekar did not take up shooting at a young age; instead, he began after turning 40. In a 2011 interview, he mentioned that attending shooting competition prize-distribution ceremonies as a chief guest gave him the opportunity to handle and fire various types of guns. Gradually, his interest grew, and his marksmanship improved..
Nana recounted that he started by aiming at very small targets, such as mineral water bottle caps. He began participating in competitions around 2001, when he was 49 years old. He competed in the 50-meter rifle prone and 300-meter big-bore events. To prepare, he underwent rigorous training at several shooting ranges, including those at Balewadi (Pune) and Mhow.
Won a National Championship Medal at the Age of 55
His film Prahaar played a pivotal role in his shooting journey. He had trained with the Indian Army for this 1991 film, and it is believed that the experience gained with the Army greatly aided his later pursuit of shooting. Nana's hard work paid off at the national level as well. In 2004, he won a silver medal in the 300-meter big-bore event at the 48th National Shooting Championship held at the BSF Revati Range in Indore. About three years later, in 2007, he won a bronze medal as a member of the Maharashtra team.
Wave of grief over Nana Patekar's passing
It is noteworthy that Nana Patekar passed away on the morning of October 8. According to reports, he was found unconscious at his home in Dona Paula, Goa. He was subsequently taken to Manipal Hospital, where doctors attempted to revive him for approximately 45 minutes. He was declared dead at around 5:20 AM. The cause of death has been reported as a heart attack. A wave of grief has swept across the entire country following Nana Patekar's passing.
