Nana Patekar. (Press Information Bureau)

Indian cinema lost one of its greatest acting powerhouses, Oct. 8, as Vishwanath “Nana” Patekar passed away at age 75. Nana was a raw, unfiltered actor who delivered dialogues with intensity, making his role memorable and the hallmark of the film.

He redefined the villain as ‘Anna Seth’ in “Parinda,” became the fiery conscience in “Krantiveer,” and brought a chilling realism to “Ab Tak Chhappan.” He sent the audience laughing as ‘Don Uday Shetty’ in “Welcome,” and delivered a tragic masterclass in his native Marathi “Natsamrat.”

Nana was honored with three National Film Awards and the ‘Padma Shri.’

His rapid-fire swag will be missed, immensely.