Thiruvananthapuram | Union Minister of State and actor Suresh Gopi on Thursday condoled the death of veteran actor Nana Patekar, describing him as a "monumental titan" of Indian cinema and praising his acting and philanthropic work.

The 76-year-old actor, known for his versatility and powerful screen presence, died at his Goa residence in the early hours of Thursday.

In a Facebook post, Gopi quoted Patekar as saying, "I am an actor, not a star. Stars shine for a moment, but actors stay forever." Gopi described Patekar as the "undisputed king of histrionics" and said few actors in the history of Indian cinema had commanded the craft with such authority.

He recalled Patekar's performances in films including "Parinda", "Krantiveer", "Tirangaa" and "Natsamrat", and praised his dialogue delivery and screen presence.

Gopi also highlighted Patekar's philanthropic work through the Naam Foundation, noting that he had supported drought-affected farmers and rural communities in Maharashtra.

"An irreplaceable void in Indian cinema. Rest in peace, legend," Gopi said