Nana Patekar messaged a friend around 2:30 am on Thursday saying he was feeling unwell, his doctor has revealed. Hours later, the 75-year-old actor was declared dead.

Dr Shekhar Salkar said Patekar was gradually becoming unconscious. His caretaker was sent to the hospital for help, and an emergency team from Manipal Hospital went to his Goa residence. They began cardiac massage as he was completely unresponsive.

He was shifted to the hospital around 4:20 am. Doctors tried to revive him, but he was brought dead, Dr Salkar said. The cause was cardiac arrest.

A police case was filed as the death falls under a medico-legal case. The body was taken to Goa Medical College for a post-mortem.

Family members were not present at the time. His friends and a caretaker were with him. Patekar was later cremated with full state honours at his farmhouse near Pune.

The actor had been living at his Goa residence and had been in Pune only recently for work. His final rites took place later the same day near his farmhouse in Donje village. Doctors said he had no family members by his side when the emergency began.