Veteran actor Nana Patekar was cremated with full state honours in Pune on Thursday night. The actor was given a 3-gun salute.As per reports, the actor’s mortal remains were brought to his farmhouse in Pune, where fans paid their respects, offered garlands and floral tributes. A large crowd, including members of the film community and politicians, turned up to bid farewell to the veteran star.Several members of the film industry, including actor Jackie Shroff, directors Anil Sharma and Anees Bazmee, and producer Firoz Nadiadwala, arrived at Donje village to attend the last rites and offer their condolences to the actor’s grieving family.Following the funeral ceremony, Nana Patekar’s son, Malhar Patekar explained to the media why the family decided to conduct the last rites on the same day of his death. In a video on ANI, Malhar was asked about proceeding with the funeral late Thursday night, especially when several members of the film fraternity wanted to be a part of the ceremony, and pay their respects. He explained, “We proceeded (with the last rites today) because he passed away early this morning, so a significant amount of time had already passed. That is why we decided to go ahead with it today.”Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and several others, visited the actor’s farmhouse in Pune to offer their condolences.Patekar, 75, passed away in the early hours of Thursday morning after reportedly suffering a cardiac arrest at his residence in Goa. According to doctors at Manipal Hospital, he was administered CPR for around 45 minutes before he was pronounced dead. A post-mortem examination was ordered to establish the exact cause of death.Known for his powerful performances across Hindi and Marathi cinema, Patekar leaves behind a legacy spanning several decades, with acclaimed films including ‘Parinda’, ‘Krantiveer’, ‘Ab Tak Chhappan’ and ‘Natsamrat’.
