Just days after the passing of veteran actor Nana Patekar, the Indian film industry has suffered another major loss. Renowned Marathi and Bollywood actress Madhu Kambikar, who famously portrayed Nana Patekar's mother on screen in multiple films, passed away on October 12, 2026, at the age of 73 in Pune, Maharashtra. She had been bedridden due to paralysis for quite some time and was struggling with age-related health issues.
Madhu Kambikar began her 40-year artistic journey as a traditional Tamasha and Lavani folk artist before stepping into cinema. She made her Marathi film debut in 1982 with the movie Shaapit. Over the decades, she became a prominent face in both Marathi and Hindi cinema, starring in numerous notable Bollywood films such as Govinda's Shola Aur Shabnam, Mahesh Bhatt's Saatwan Aasman, and Nana Patekar's Hum Dono and Yashwant.
In the Marathi film industry, she built an impressive legacy working across movies, theater, and television serials. Some of her most memorable Marathi works include Ek Hota Vidushak, Zapatlela, Hech Mazha Maher, and Yeu Ka Gharat. Her dynamic range allowed her to transition seamlessly between different types of roles: notably, she starred as Nana Patekar's heroine in the 1983 Marathi film Raghu Maina, and later famously played his mother in the 1995 films Hum Dono and Yashwant.
Her profound contributions to acting earned her widespread recognition, including six Maharashtra State Film Awards and a Filmfare Award (Marathi).