Veteran film personality Nana Patekar has passed away at the age of 75 at his residence in Goa. Despite commanding immense respect and popularity across several decades in the Indian film industry, he deliberately stayed away from the glamour, ostentation, and extravagant trappings of celebrity culture. Throughout his life, he remained devoted to an unpretentious, rural way of living, holding a deep affection for agriculture, farming communities, and the countryside. A significant part of his routine was centered around his sprawling farmhouse located near Pune, where he actively engaged in farming and rural living.
Advocacy for Farmers and the Mission of Naam Foundation
The plight of agrarian communities touched Nana Patekar deeply. He consistently raised his voice against rural debt distress and the tragedy of farmer suicides, particularly across the drought-prone Marathwada and Vidarbha belts of Maharashtra. Moving beyond mere words, he established the Naam Foundation to provide tangible assistance and long-term relief to struggling agricultural households. Describing his own identity, he often remarked that while he performed as an artist on stage and screen, his true self belonged to the soil as a farmer.
The 27-Acre Sanctuary Near Khadakwasla
Located in the vicinity of Khadakwasla near Pune, his expansive 27-acre property was maintained strictly as a rustic sanctuary rather than an opulent modern resort. The structure features seven rooms along with a spacious central hall, deliberately devoid of lavish interior styling or commercial extravagance. Traditional wooden rafters, classic timber furniture, earth, and expansive greenery define the surroundings. The estate was intentionally preserved in its natural state, prioritising calm, shade, foliage, and pastoral harmony over modern indulgence.
Cultivation, Countryside Cooking and Livestock
A wide variety of crops were cultivated directly on the 27-acre land, including wheat, rice, garlic, onions, and pearl millet (bajra), along with seasonal vegetables and flowering plants. Nana Patekar enjoyed cooking rustic meals himself and often spoke with fondness about preparing banana flower curry, recalling that his mother used to make it with exceptional skill. His affection for animals was equally prominent at the property. Reflecting on his daily existence during the lockdown period, he noted that the estate was home to twelve cows, two oxen, and five dogs, all integrated into the everyday fabric of the farm.
A Modest 1BHK in Mumbai and Ancestral Roots in Ratnagiri
Even at the height of his career, Nana Patekar maintained an extraordinarily modest presence in Mumbai. Instead of acquiring luxury penthouses or sprawling bungalows, he operated out of a simple one-bedroom-hall-kitchen (1BHK) flat in Samarth Nagar, situated in the Lokhandwala area of Andheri. His ancestral roots lay in the coastal district of Ratnagiri in Maharashtra. Out of seven siblings, he was the sole surviving member until his passing on October 8, marking the close of a life defined by artistic brilliance and profound simplicity.
