{
  "id": 12798344,
  "title": "'He was one of the fittest men I knew': Dubai producer Arjun Iyer struggles to come to terms with Nana Patekar's death",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/08/he-was-one-of-the-fittest-men-i-knew-dubai-producer-arjun-iyer",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-10-08T05:32:46.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Gulf News",
    "slug": "gulf-news",
    "url": "https://gulfnews.com/entertainment/he-was-one-of-the-fittest-men-i-knew-dubai-producer-arjun-iyer-struggles-to-come-to-terms-with-nana-patekars-death-1.500702680"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Dubai-based producer and director Arjun Iyer is grappling with the loss of actor Nana Patekar, whose reported death has left him in disbelief. Iyer recalls Patekar as one of the fittest men he knew, dedicated to physical fitness not just for film roles but as a way of life. He maintained a farm, ate healthy, and demonstrated remarkable agility. Iyer, who worked with Patekar during the filming of Welcome Back and remained close to him, also mentions that Patekar was more than just an actor. He was a student of cinema, admiring Jack Nicholson and the films of Guru Dutt. Although Patekar could be difficult to interview, Iyer knew him as a man who had stayed at his home, providing a glimpse into his personal life. The actor's reported cardiac arrest is particularly shocking to Iyer, given his memories of Patekar's disciplined approach to fitness.",
  "summary": "For Dubai-based producer and director Arjun Iyer, who worked with Nana Patekar during the filming of Welcome Back starting 2013, news of the actor's reported death has been particularly difficult to process. “I may yet to come to terms with it ... I quit Bollywood film production years ago, but this is still such a big shock, I am shocked!” said Iyer, expressing his disbelief. What shook him most…",
  "key_points": [
    "Dubai producer Arjun Iyer struggles with Nana Patekar's death.",
    "Patekar was described as one of the fittest men Iyer knew.",
    "Iyer worked with Patekar on Welcome Back and admired his cinematic dedication."
  ],
  "editors_take": "The shock of Nana Patekar's death from cardiac arrest underscores the unpredictability of life, even for those who seem to rigorously manage their health and wellbeing.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}