Veteran actor Nana Patekar passes away at 75 in Goa, cremated in Pune with state funeral

Actor Nana Patekar was cremated with full government honours at his property in Donje village near Pune, following his death at the age of seventy-five. His son, Malhar, performed the final rites on the grounds of the farmhouse, which is also known as Nanachi Wadi. Family sources noted that the late performer had previously stated his wish for his final ceremony to take place at this location.

Final Journey

The veteran performer passed away on Thursday morning at his home in Dona Paula, Goa, after experiencing a cardiac emergency. Medical staff at a private hospital tried to revive him for about three-quarters of an hour before pronouncing him dead at around five-twenty. Before leaving Goa, his body was kept briefly at the Goa Medical College and Hospital so that local admirers could pay their respects. The casket was then moved in a decorated vehicle to the Mopa airport for the flight to Pune.

Dignitaries Present

Upon arrival at the Pune airport, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis offered floral tributes. Numerous prominent figures from politics and the film industry attended the ceremony in Donje, including Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar, Eknath Shinde, Union Ministers Ramdas Athawale and Murlidhar Mohol, alongside state ministers Chandrakant Patil, Uday Samant, Madhuri Misal, and Ashish Shelar. Fellow actors Jackie Shroff and Sayaji Shinde, along with filmmaker Anil Sharma, also joined the large crowd of mourners.

Context

State honours during a funeral are typically reserved by governments to recognise individuals who have made extraordinary and lasting contributions to public life, arts, or culture. Nana Patekar built a legendary career spanning both Marathi theatre and mainstream Hindi and regional cinema, earning widespread acclaim for his intense portrayals in numerous classic films. His passing marks the end of an era for Indian dramatic acting and leaves a significant void in the country's cultural landscape.