Nana Patekar cremated with full state honours in Pune

Actor Nana Patekar, 75, was cremated with full state honours at his farmhouse in Donje village, in Pune district, on Thursday night after dying at his home in Goa earlier that day. The last rites drew a large crowd and members of the film industry and public life. Patekar’s son, Malhar, lit the pyre. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis paid tribute to the actor at Pune airport when his remains arrived from Goa. The funeral followed an announcement by Maharashtra Cultural Affairs Minister Ashish Shelar that Patekar would receive a state funeral in recognition of his contributions to theatre and cinema. Patekar’s remains had left Goa for Pune on Thursday evening. Ganesh Thorat, chief executive of Patekar’s Naam Foundation, said the final rites would take place at the actor’s farmhouse. Accounts of the cause of death differed in their wording. Doctors cited in one report said Patekar was suspected to have suffered a heart attack. Another account said he suffered cardiac arrest and that doctors attempted resuscitation before he was declared dead on arrival. The cause was not established consistently in the reports.