Veteran Marathi actor and director Pravin Tarde has strongly criticised the absence of prominent Hindi film industry personalities at the funeral of legendary actor Nana Patekar. The iconic artist passed away in Goa on Thursday, 8 October, with official post-mortem findings released on Sunday, 11 October, confirming cardiac arrest as the cause of death. Following the legal procedures, his mortal remains were brought to his ancestral village in Pune, where his son Malhar conducted the final rites that very night. While family members, close companions, and numerous Marathi cinema figures arrived to offer their tributes, mainstream Bollywood representation remained confined to only a handful of individuals, including Salman Khan, Sajid Nadiadwala, and Jackie Shroff.
Disappointment Over Missing Industry Friends
Pravin Tarde voiced profound grief and frustration over how little the film fraternity showed up for an actor who genuinely held several colleagues in high regard. He pointed out that Nana Patekar frequently spoke of many industry figures as personal friends, making their physical presence at his final journey an expected gesture of basic decency. Tarde noted that whenever even minor actors pass away in Mumbai, industry members rush to mark their attendance, yet they failed to travel to Pune for a powerhouse talent of Patekar's stature. While the lack of presence from popular figures does not diminish Patekar's colossal legacy, Tarde admitted having an unshakeable grievance regarding this visible apathy.
The Dignity of Farmers Outshone Absent Film Celebrities
Highlighting the actual emotional core of the gathering, Pravin Tarde emphasised that several thousand farmers travelled from various areas, including Dhule, to bid farewell to Nana Patekar. He observed that these farmers, bearing the scent of soil and hard labour, carried infinitely more significance than any perfume-wearing film celebrity could ever offer. Patekar never viewed himself merely as a cinematic performer; throughout his life, he consistently and openly identified as a farmer. Tarde asserted that the presence of the agricultural community reflected the genuine bond Patekar nurtured with everyday people through his sustained support and empathy.
A Legacy Larger Than the Film Fraternity
Pravin Tarde maintained that the Hindi film industry is simply not bigger than Nana Patekar, ensuring that his towering reputation remains entirely untarnished by who chose to stay away. Patekar never attached his core identity to film industry glamour and remained firmly grounded until the end. Tarde reiterated that while he openly harbours complaints against those who skipped paying their final respects despite receiving Patekar's genuine warmth over decades, the heartfelt presence of ordinary farmers provided the true and most honourable tribute the departed stalwart deserved.
