Nana Patekar, 75, cremated after sunset: son explains why

Nana Patekar’s last journey began in Goa and ended at his farmhouse in Donje, Pune — but it ended later than the family had planned. The veteran actor, 75, died on October 8 after a severe cardiac arrest at his residence in Dona Paula, Goa.

He was rushed to Manipal Hospital, where doctors tried to revive him. After the required procedures at Goa Medical College, his mortal remains were moved to Maharashtra for the final rites.

A son explains the after-sunset cremation

The cremation was performed with full state honours on Thursday evening, after sunset. The timing kept several Bollywood colleagues from attending, and Nana Patekar’s son Malhar addressed the questions directly.

“We expected that we would arrive earlier, but it took us some time. He passed away early in the morning so a lot of time had already passed, and it was not advisable to keep the mortal remains for long. Hence, we had to do the cremation after sunset,” Malhar Patekar said.

In practical terms, the family had a narrow window. The Goa-to-Pune transfer took longer than expected, and they decided a delay risked being worse than holding the rites after dark.

Why the late cremation touched a nerve

In India, last rites are traditionally tied to daylight and the presence of loved ones. The timing meant that some industry friends and colleagues, still making their way to Pune, could not pay their respects in person. That is often the first question fans ask: was there enough time, and who could not make it?

The family’s answer is that this was a logistical necessity, not a choice.

The legacy frame: ajaramar

Malhar also used his media interaction to shift the conversation from the circumstances of the cremation to the permanence of his father’s work. He called Nana Patekar ajaramar — a Marathi word for someone immortal — and repeated a line he said the actor often used: “Let’s get together in the name of humanity and work for the betterment of the world.”

That line was not just rhetoric. Nana Patekar co-founded the Naam Foundation with actor Makarand Anaspure. Its work has focused on:

• drought relief and water conservation in Maharashtra
• support for farmers in distress
• community-level rural development

Tributes have come from the film industry, political circles and fans, with many noting his intense performances, distinctive voice and contribution to both Hindi and Marathi cinema. The family is asking that those tributes now translate into continued attention to the causes he cared about.

For Bollywood, the loss is of a rare performer. For his son, the task was simpler: bring him home, explain the timing, and then point everyone back to the work that remains.

Source: Bollywood Hungama

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#Bollywood deaths#Hindi Cinema#Malhar Patekar#Marathi Cinema#Naam Foundation#nana patekar#Pune#State Honours