Actor Nana Patekar's son Malhar Patekar has explained why the veteran actor's final rites were conducted after sunset — breaking from the conventional Hindu tradition of cremating before dusk. Speaking to the media following the cremation at the family's farmhouse in Donje village, Pune district, Malhar said logistical constraints and the condition of the mortal remains made it unavoidable.

Why the Cremation Happened After Sunset

Malhar told reporters: 'We were in Goa, and his mortal remains were to be brought to the farmhouse in the village. 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 the sunset.'

Nana Patekar passed away at the age of 75 in Goa after suffering a cardiac arrest. Doctors reportedly attempted CPR and resuscitation for approximately 45 minutes, but he was declared dead on arrival at hospital. Given that he passed away early in the morning in Goa, transporting his remains to his farmhouse in Pune consumed considerable time, leaving the family with no viable alternative.

State Honours and the Last Rites

Nana Patekar was cremated with full state honours at his farmhouse in Donje in Pune district on Thursday. He was accorded a 3-gun salute, a tribute reserved for those who have rendered distinguished service. A large crowd gathered at the village to bid farewell to the celebrated actor.

Prominent figures from the Indian film industry, including actor Jackie Shroff, directors Anil Sharma and Aneez Bazmee, and producer Firoz Nadiadwala, were present at Donje village to attend the last rites. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis paid his respects to Nana Patekar at Pune airport before departing for Mumbai. Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde visited the actor's Pune farmhouse to offer condolences.

Malhar on Carrying Forward Nana Patekar's Legacy

Beyond explaining the circumstances of the cremation, Malhar spoke at length about preserving his father's legacy of social work. 'People like him don't go anywhere, they live forever through the work — they are immortal. He always told us one thing: that we should get together for humanity and work for the betterment of the world. He used to think on the global level,' Malhar said.

He noted that the late actor's social work spanned Maharashtra, pan-India, and extended to Jammu and Kashmir, with a focus on the education and health sectors. Malhar added: 'He had already passed on the responsibilities to every single person who deserved it. He had already delegated a lot of work to people who could do justice to it.'

Expressing his personal resolve, Malhar said: 'His dreams and my dreams collectively is to work for the people — I will ensure that it gets done.'

Film Fraternity Mourns the Loss

Tributes poured in from across the Indian film industry. Bollywood actor Salman Khan posted on his Instagram Stories: 'Nanaaaaa... Rest in peace bhau.' Actor Ajay Devgn shared a still from their film Apaharan on his X account and wrote: 'Not many made us happy, sad and feel anger quite the way Nana did. His presence was powerful, his performances unforgettable, and his absence will now be deeply felt. Rest well, Nana. Om Shanti.'

Actor Kamal Haasan also posted on X, sharing a throwback photograph with the late actor and writing: 'Heartbreaking news of Nana Patekar Ji's passing. An extraordinary artist and an even greater human being. The man was a force of nature... Beyond the screen, his work helping farmers in Maharashtra and his volunteer service during the Kargil War spoke volumes about his deep sense of duty. My deepest condolences to his family and his legions of fans.'

As the film fraternity and countless admirers mourn his loss, Malhar Patekar's pledge to continue his father's unfinished work in social welfare suggests that Nana Patekar's impact will extend well beyond his screen presence.