Nana Patekar, 75, to Be Cremated With Full State Honours
Maharashtra will cremate Nana Patekar with full state honours at his Donje farmhouse near Pune, after the 75-year-old died of a cardiac arrest.
Maharashtra is giving Nana Patekar the kind of farewell that usually belongs to public figures who become part of a state’s identity, not just its film industry. The veteran actor died on October 8 at 75 after a cardiac arrest. Hours later, the state government confirmed that his last rites would be conducted with full state honours.
A rare state signal
Cultural Affairs Minister Ashish Shelar announced the decision on X, pointing to Patekar’s “unparalleled contribution” to Marathi theatre and to Marathi and Hindi cinema. He said the ceremony would be held with “full state honours.” The language matters because such honours are not automatic for film stars; they mark a career that has translated into durable public regard.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis called Patekar’s son, Malhar, to offer condolences and assure the family of government support. Officials added that the family would decide the location while the state managed the arrangements.
The final journey
The family has now chosen the place Patekar loved. His cremation will take place at his farmhouse in Donje, near Pune, at 4 pm this evening. Before the last rites, his body will be taken to Goa Medical College and then brought to Maharashtra.
- Honour: Full state honours announced by Maharashtra
- Location: Patekar’s farmhouse in Donje, near Pune
- Time: October 8, 4 pm
- Route: Goa Medical College, then Maharashtra
A legacy beyond the screen
Patekar’s filmography includes three National Film Awards and four Filmfare Awards, built across five decades. But the state’s decision recognises another side of that life. He co-founded the Naam Foundation with actor Makarand Anaspure and spent years working with drought-affected farmers across Maharashtra. That service gave him a second constituency: rural families who may never have seen a red-carpet premiere but knew his work on the ground.
Maharashtra has long treated Marathi theatre and cinema as cultural cornerstones. By extending state honours, the government is placing Patekar within that tradition—an artist whose work belonged as much to the stage and the drought-hit districts as to the multiplex.
What comes next
Tributes continue to pour in from Bollywood and beyond as the state prepares for the evening ceremony. At a moment when streaming has widened the gap between older and newer stars, Patekar’s send-off is also a reminder of how durable a regional-rooted career can be. The family’s choice of Donje keeps the goodbye personal, even while the honour is public.
Source: Filmfare
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