Veteran cinematic icon Nana Patekar was laid to rest with full state honours at his Pune residence, drawing prominent personalities from both cinema and politics. As the late actor's son, Malhar Patekar, lit the funeral pyre, attendees raised reverent slogans in his honour. The emotional atmosphere saw close family members inconsolable in grief, with his wife Neelkanti appearing deeply shaken during the final rites.
Heartfelt Tributes from Industry Colleagues
Longtime peers from the film industry, including actor Jackie Shroff, attended the cremation to offer their final respects. Actor Anil Kapoor expressed profound sorrow through a touching note on Instagram, mourning the sudden departure of a close friend whom he cherished across decades. Kapoor reflected on how deeply he would miss their bond in personal life, during telephone conversations, on studio sets, and across the silver screen, describing his passing as an enormous void in performing arts.
Arrival in Pune and Official Homage
The mortal remains arrived late in Pune following procedural paperwork in Goa, which delayed the scheduled cremation proceedings. Upon the arrival of the mortal remains at Pune airport, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis received the casket to pay homage with state honours. Offering floral tributes, Chief Minister Fadnavis met the grieving family members, speaking directly with Patekar's wife and son to extend government support and heartfelt condolences during their bereavement.
Medical Efforts and Timeline in Goa
Patekar passed away on October 8 at his Goa residence at the age of 75. He had traveled to the coastal state for an event, where he made his final public appearance on October 4 during a gathering in Dona Paula. Dr. Shekhar Salkar, head of the oncology department at Manipal Hospital, stated that medical professionals made exhaustive attempts to revive him using CPR for approximately 45 minutes without regaining cardiac activity. Dr. Salkar confirmed that despite 45 minutes of continuous CPR, the actor could not be revived, adding that a medico-legal case was registered and a post-mortem examination scheduled.
Personal Legacy and Memorable Screen Journey
Patekar married Neelkanti in 1978. The couple had two sons, although their elder child passed away at the age of two due to illness. That same year marked his cinematic debut with the film 'Gaman'. Over four decades, he delivered defining performances in acclaimed titles such as 'Krantiveer', 'Parinda', 'Prahaar', 'Ab Tak Chhappan', 'Raajneeti', and 'Welcome'. His recent filmography included roles in 'Subedaar', 'Housefull 5', 'Vanvaas', and Prakash Jha's 'Sankalp', with his final on-screen appearance coming in Vishal Bhardwaj's 'O Romeo', released in February 2026.
