Veteran actor Nana Patekar cremated with state honours as thousands pay final respects in Pune
More than 1,000 mourners gathered at Nana Patekar's farmhouse in Donje village as the three-time National Award winner was laid to rest with full state honours, his son Malhar performing the last rites.
Nadia El-Sayed
Veteran actor Nana Patekar cremated with state honours as thousands pay final respects in Pune
The mortal remains of veteran actor Nana Patekar arrived at his farmhouse in Donje village, located approximately 30 km from Pune city in the Haveli taluka, late Thursday night. More than 1,000 people had gathered to pay their respects to the actor, affectionately known as "Nana" or "Nanaji", many waiting for hours in the heat to bid him farewell.
Patekar, who died in Goa in the early hours of Thursday at the age of 75, was cremated with full state honours on the outskirts of Pune. Police personnel accorded him a 21-gun salute, and his son, Malhar Patekar, performed the last rites.
Born Vishwanath Patekar on January 1, 1951, in Murud-Janjira, a coastal town in Raigad district, Maharashtra, the actor rose from humble beginnings to become one of Indian cinema's most decorated performers. Before entering films, he studied at the Sir J.J. Institute of Applied Art in Mumbai and worked as a commercial artist and billboard painter, reportedly earning around Rs 35 per month painting film posters.
Patekar made his Bollywood debut with the 1978 film "Gaman" and achieved his breakthrough with the Academy Award-nominated film "Salaam Bombay!" in 1988. His career spanned nearly five decades, during which he won three National Film Awards: two for Best Supporting Actor for "Parinda" (1989) and "Agni Sakshi" (1996), and one for Best Actor for "Krantiveer" (1994). In 2013, he was awarded the Padma Shri, India's fourth-highest civilian honour, for his contribution to cinema and arts.
State honours and official protocol
Patekar's body was flown to Pune airport, where Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis paid his respects, before being taken by road to Donje. While state funerals in India are officially accorded to the President, Prime Minister, former Presidents, or Governors, the government has discretionary power to grant such honours to distinguished individuals who have made significant contributions to the nation.
Several businesses in and around Khadakwasla closed for the day to facilitate the procession. At the farmhouse, workers had constructed a raised platform for the pyre, erected a tent for dignitaries, installed barricades and set up a large screen so members of the public could follow the ceremony.
The procession reached the farmhouse shortly after 10.30pm, accompanied by a marching band. As the funeral ceremony began, mourners gathered to pay their final respects, with chants of "Nana Patekar amar rahe!" heard among the crowd.
The funeral was attended by political leaders, members of the public and people from the film industry. Those present included Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Sunetra Pawar, Union Ministers Murlidhar Mohol and Ramdas Athawale, state ministers Chandrakant Patil, Uday Samant and Madhuri Misal, and NCP state chief Sunil Tatkare. Actors Pravin Tarde and Kiran Yadnyopavit also attended.
A legacy beyond cinema
For many mourners, Patekar's legacy extended far beyond his acclaimed performances on screen. He was widely known for his work with farmers and rural communities in Maharashtra.
In September 2015, amid a severe drought that affected farming communities across the state, Patekar and fellow actor Makarand Anaspure co-founded the Naam Foundation. The organisation's name was derived by combining the first letters of the founders' names: "Na" from Nana Patekar and "M" from Makarand Anaspure.
The foundation's work extends beyond drought relief to include water conservation projects, restoring old canals, reviving stalled water projects, and farmer training programs, particularly in the Marathwada and Vidarbha regions of Maharashtra. According to the foundation, it has supported 4,940 suicide-affected farmer families across the state.
As thousands gathered to bid farewell to the actor, it became clear that Patekar's impact on Maharashtra extended well beyond the silver screen, touching the lives of countless rural families through his humanitarian work.
