Nana Patekar to be cremated with state honours in Pune

The funeral of veteran Bollywood actor Nana Patekar will be held with state honours at his farmhouse in the Donje area of Pune, Maharashtra. The actor died of a heart attack at his residence in Goa at the age of 75 in the early hours of Thursday, October 8. His body will be taken to Pune today.

Ganesh Thorat, Chief Executive Officer of Nana Patekar's social organisation 'Naam Foundation', said the actor's body is expected to reach Pune around 5pm. After that, fans and well-wishers will be given the opportunity to pay their last respects. His funeral will then be held on the grounds of his farmhouse in Donje.

The Maharashtra government has decided to give Nana Patekar a farewell with full state honours. The state's Cultural Affairs Minister Ashish Shelar said the decision was taken in recognition of the actor's long-standing contribution to Marathi theatre and Marathi and Hindi cinema.

Nana Patekar suddenly fell ill in Goa in the early hours of Thursday. According to doctors, he was taken to hospital in an unconscious state and could not be saved despite CPR being administered for about 45 minutes. He was declared dead around 5:20am. His body has been taken to Goa Medical College for autopsy.

A shadow of grief has descended on Bollywood and the Marathi film industry over Nana Patekar's death. Many in the film industry, including Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, have expressed grief over his death. In a career spanning nearly five decades, he created a distinct position for himself among audiences by acting in various types of films, including 'Parinda', 'Krantiveer', 'Natsamrat' and 'Welcome'.

Alongside acting, Nana Patekar was also active in social service. Through the 'Naam Foundation', established in 2015 with actor Makarand Anaspure, he stood beside farmers in drought-prone areas and people affected by disasters. In 2013, the Indian government honoured him with the Padma Shri.

Source: The Indian Express