Veteran actor Nana Patekar’s final journey has sparked a discussion about Bollywood’s presence at his funeral. While the actor was cremated with full state honours at his farmhouse in Pune, Marathi actor and filmmaker Pravin Tarde expressed disappointment over the limited attendance of Bollywood personalities. He also highlighted the thousands of farmers who gathered to bid farewell to the legendary actor.
Nana Patekar, who was 75 years old, was cremated in the presence of his family members, friends, colleagues and well-wishers. His mortal remains were draped in the Indian Tricolour and he was given a gun salute as part of the state funeral.
Speaking to a news channel, Pravin Tarde said that the absence of several Bollywood personalities did not reduce Nana Patekar’s greatness. He stressed that the actor’s connection with farmers and ordinary people was far more meaningful than his position in the film industry.
Pravin Tarde pointed out that thousands of farmers attended Nana Patekar’s funeral procession. He highlighted their hard work and close connection with the soil, saying their presence carried greater significance than the absence of film personalities who were expected to attend.
He also explained that Nana Patekar never limited his identity to being an actor. According to Pravin Tarde, the veteran star always considered himself a farmer, making the presence of farmers at his funeral especially meaningful.
Pravin Tarde further said that, in his view, even a farmer travelling from Dhule to pay his last respects held greater importance than Bollywood heroes. He maintained that the film industry was not bigger than Nana Patekar and that the farmers’ presence reflected the respect and affection people had for him.
However, Pravin Tarde admitted that he had a genuine complaint about Bollywood’s absence. He felt that people who shared a close friendship with Nana Patekar should have attended his funeral to pay their final respects. He expected more members of the film industry to be present, especially those who considered the actor a friend.
Pravin Tarde also recalled that Jackie Shroff and singer Suresh Wadkar attended the funeral. He compared the situation with the funerals of lesser-known actors in Mumbai, where many people often gather dressed in white, and expressed disappointment that Nana Patekar did not receive a similar turnout from the industry. Nevertheless, he added that the farmers and those close to Nana were present to bid him farewell.
Several film industry personalities did attend the funeral, including Jackie Shroff, filmmaker Anees Bazmee, Mehul Kumar and Sajid Nadiadwala. Actors Makarand Anaspure and Prasad Oak, along with singers Rahul Deshpande and Suresh Wadkar, were also present to pay their last respects.
Nana Patekar di*d following a cardiac arrest at his home in Goa. He reportedly experienced severe chest pain and was found unconscious at his residence. A medical team was sent to his flat, where he received cardiac massage before being rushed to a private hospital in Dona Paula. Doctors at the hospital declared him de*d at 5:20 AM.
Pravin Tarde’s remarks have brought attention to Nana Patekar’s life beyond cinema, highlighting his strong bond with farmers and ordinary people. While Pravin Tarde wished to see more of Bollywood at the funeral, he emphasised that the thousands of farmers who gathered to honour the actor reflected the deep respect he had earned throughout his life.
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