Relationships / Nana Patekar And The Love Stories That Sparked Headlines
·1 hour ago·4 min read
Key Points
Nana Patekar, the celebrated actor known for intense performances in films like 'Parinda', 'Krantiveer' and 'Agni Sakshi', died on October 8 at the age of 75. His personal life attracted attention over the years, with Deepti Naval openly acknowledging a past romantic involvement and reports linking him to Manisha Koirala and Ayesha Jhulka.
Mumbai, Oct 9: Nana Patekar, the celebrated actor known for his intense performances and distinctive screen presence, died on October 8 at the age of 75. While his cinematic legacy remains central to his life story, his personal relationships also attracted considerable attention over the years.
Nana Patekar was an actor who rarely did anything by half-measures, whether on screen or in the public eye. While his powerful performances in films such as 'Parinda', 'Krantiveer' and 'Agni Sakshi' earned him widespread acclaim, his personal life also attracted attention, with reports linking him to several actresses during the 1990s.
From Deepti Naval to Manisha Koirala and Ayesha Jhulka, Patekar’s relationships remained a subject of curiosity. Here is a look at what is known about his reported romantic relationships, his marriage to Neelakanti Patekar and the personal life of one of Indian cinema’s most distinctive performers.
Also Read: This Is Why Hema Malini Chose Married Dharmendra Over These Bachelor Superstars
Nana Patekar was an actor who rarely did anything by half-measures, whether on screen or in the public eye. While his powerful performances in films such as 'Parinda', 'Krantiveer' and 'Agni Sakshi' earned him widespread acclaim, his personal life also attracted attention, with reports linking him to several actresses during the 1990s.
From Deepti Naval to Manisha Koirala and Ayesha Jhulka, Patekar’s relationships remained a subject of curiosity. Here is a look at what is known about his reported romantic relationships, his marriage to Neelakanti Patekar and the personal life of one of Indian cinema’s most distinctive performers.
Also Read: This Is Why Hema Malini Chose Married Dharmendra Over These Bachelor Superstars
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Deepti Naval
In a 2002 interview with Rediff, noted actress Deepti Naval openly acknowledged that she and Patekar had been romantically involved in the past.
“So what if we were romantically involved at one time? Today, we are great friends,” she said while discussing their reunion in Shakti: The Power (2002), in which she played his wife.
Her statement remains one of the clearest on-record acknowledgements of Patekar’s romantic history.
Deepti Naval paid an emotional tribute to iconic actor Nana Patekar, who passed away at the age of 75 following a sudden cardiac arrest at his residence in Goa. Taking to her social media accounts, Naval shared a poignant farewell message: "Farewell Nana . . . You will always be remembered as a true artiste . . . Rest in peace, dear friend . . . We will always miss the child in you!"
Manisha Koirala
Patekar was linked to veteran actress Manisha Koirala after the two worked together in 'Khamoshi: The Musical' (1996), 'Agni Sakshi' (1996) and 'Yugpurush' (1998). Their reported closeness prompted speculation about a romance, although the details of their relationship were never comprehensively confirmed by both actors.
The subject resurfaced in September 2026 when 'Agni Sakshi' writer Ranbir Pushp discussed the actors’ equation in a conversation with Siddharth Kannan. Pushp recalled their closeness and professional understanding but did not claim to have witnessed anything that established a romantic relationship.
In a 2002 interview with Rediff, noted actress Deepti Naval openly acknowledged that she and Patekar had been romantically involved in the past.
“So what if we were romantically involved at one time? Today, we are great friends,” she said while discussing their reunion in Shakti: The Power (2002), in which she played his wife.
Her statement remains one of the clearest on-record acknowledgements of Patekar’s romantic history.
Deepti Naval paid an emotional tribute to iconic actor Nana Patekar, who passed away at the age of 75 following a sudden cardiac arrest at his residence in Goa. Taking to her social media accounts, Naval shared a poignant farewell message: "Farewell Nana . . . You will always be remembered as a true artiste . . . Rest in peace, dear friend . . . We will always miss the child in you!"
Manisha Koirala
Patekar was linked to veteran actress Manisha Koirala after the two worked together in 'Khamoshi: The Musical' (1996), 'Agni Sakshi' (1996) and 'Yugpurush' (1998). Their reported closeness prompted speculation about a romance, although the details of their relationship were never comprehensively confirmed by both actors.
The subject resurfaced in September 2026 when 'Agni Sakshi' writer Ranbir Pushp discussed the actors’ equation in a conversation with Siddharth Kannan. Pushp recalled their closeness and professional understanding but did not claim to have witnessed anything that established a romantic relationship.
On Thursday, Koirala paid tribute to Patekar after his death, describing him as “a remarkable presence and a true stalwart of the craft” and praising his contribution to cinema and dedication to his work.
Ayesha Jhulka
Another name that appeared in accounts of Patekar’s personal life was actress Ayesha Jhulka. Some entertainment reports claimed that the two were romantically involved and that their reported association allegedly contributed to the end of Patekar’s relationship with Koirala.
However, Jhulka addressed the speculation herself in an interview in March 2025. She rejected claims that she had been responsible for Koirala and Patekar’s reported breakup and said she and Patekar had been friends.
Jhulka also reflected on how frequently she had been linked to male co-stars during her career, explaining that professional closeness was often interpreted romantically.
His Marriage To Neelakanti Patekar
Patekar married actress Neelakanti Patekar in 1978. Reports over the years have said that the couple lived separately for decades but never legally divorced.
The couple endured the loss of their elder son, Durvasa, in childhood. Their younger son, Malhar Patekar, survives his father.
Also Read: Not Twice, But Thrice: Indian Celebrities Who Married Three or More Times
Beyond the headlines surrounding his personal life, Patekar built an acclaimed career across Hindi and Marathi cinema. His notable films included 'Parinda', 'Krantiveer', 'Agni Sakshi', 'Ab Tak Chhappan', 'Apaharan' and 'Natsamrat'.
He won three National Film Awards, including Best Actor for 'Krantiveer', and received the Padma Shri in 2013 for his contribution to the arts.
Ayesha Jhulka
Another name that appeared in accounts of Patekar’s personal life was actress Ayesha Jhulka. Some entertainment reports claimed that the two were romantically involved and that their reported association allegedly contributed to the end of Patekar’s relationship with Koirala.
However, Jhulka addressed the speculation herself in an interview in March 2025. She rejected claims that she had been responsible for Koirala and Patekar’s reported breakup and said she and Patekar had been friends.
Jhulka also reflected on how frequently she had been linked to male co-stars during her career, explaining that professional closeness was often interpreted romantically.
His Marriage To Neelakanti Patekar
Patekar married actress Neelakanti Patekar in 1978. Reports over the years have said that the couple lived separately for decades but never legally divorced.
The couple endured the loss of their elder son, Durvasa, in childhood. Their younger son, Malhar Patekar, survives his father.
Also Read: Not Twice, But Thrice: Indian Celebrities Who Married Three or More Times
Beyond the headlines surrounding his personal life, Patekar built an acclaimed career across Hindi and Marathi cinema. His notable films included 'Parinda', 'Krantiveer', 'Agni Sakshi', 'Ab Tak Chhappan', 'Apaharan' and 'Natsamrat'.
He won three National Film Awards, including Best Actor for 'Krantiveer', and received the Padma Shri in 2013 for his contribution to the arts.
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