Veteran Indian actor Nana Patekar was cremated with full state honours at his farmhouse in Donje village, Pune district, late on Thursday, October 8, 2026. Thousands of people from various walks of life gathered to bid farewell to the 75-year-old actor, chanting “Nana Amar Rahe” (Long Live Nana).
Patekar’s son, Malhar Patekar, lit the pyre. According to his aides, Patekar had previously expressed a wish to be cremated at his farmhouse.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis paid tributes to the actor at the Pune International Airport upon the arrival of his mortal remains from Goa earlier in the evening. Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar, Union Ministers Ramdas Athawale and Murlidhar Mohol, along with state ministers Chandrakant Patil, Uday Samant, and Madhuri Misal, Lok Sabha MP Sunil Tatkare, and personalities from Bollywood, politics, sports, and social sectors, were present at the last rites.
Tributes and legacy
Speaking after the ceremony, Malhar Patekar stated that his father’s core teaching was for people to unite and follow the right path for the betterment of humanity. He also highlighted Nana Patekar’s unparalleled work through the Naam Foundation, an organisation dedicated to assisting farmers in drought-prone areas, and pledged to continue its mission.
Maharashtra Cultural Affairs Minister Ashish Shelar had announced the decision for a state funeral, recognising Patekar’s immense contributions to Marathi theatre, and Marathi and Hindi cinema.
Death and background
Patekar passed away at his Goa home in the early hours of Thursday, October 8, 2026, at the age of 75. Doctors suspect he suffered a heart attack. His last public appearance was on October 4, 2026, at the Samrat Club International establishment ceremony in Dona Paula, Goa, where he spoke about theatre, life, and death.
Nana Patekar, born on January 1, 1951, in Murud-Janjira, Maharashtra, made his Bollywood debut in 1978 with the film ‘Gaman’. He was known for his earthy performances in diverse films such as “Krantiveer” and “Khamoshi: The Musical.” Beyond acting, Patekar served as a captain in the Territorial Army in 1988 and as a major in the Maratha Light Infantry Regiment during the 1999 Kargil War. He was honoured with the Padma Shri award in 2013 for his contributions to cinema and arts.
In 2015, he co-founded the Naam Foundation with fellow Marathi actor Makarand Anaspure to address the growing crisis faced by farmers in drought-prone regions of Maharashtra.
The official post-mortem report regarding Nana Patekar’s death has not yet been released.
