Pravin Tarde Criticises Bollywood's Absence at Nana Patekar's Funeral

Marathi filmmaker and actor Pravin Tarde has publicly voiced his disappointment regarding the limited turnout of Bollywood celebrities at the funeral of veteran actor Nana Patekar. Following the final rites, Tarde remarked that while the film industry's absence was noticeable, the presence of thousands of farmers who gathered to pay their respects highlighted the true values held by the late actor. Patekar, who passed away on October 8 following a cardiac arrest at his home in Goa, was laid to rest with full state honours at his farmhouse in Pune.Speaking to ABP Majha, Tarde emphasised that Patekar identified himself primarily as a farmer rather than a mainstream film star. He stated that the farmers who travelled from places like Dhule to attend the ceremony held more significance than industry peers. Tarde noted, “The fact that Bollywood people did not attend the funeral does not diminish Nana’s greatness. When did Nana ever say that he belonged to Bollywood? Nana always used to say that he was a farmer.”Despite his emphasis on the farming community's support, Tarde admitted he had expected a larger presence from those in the film industry, particularly individuals whom Patekar considered close friends. He contrasted the turnout with the typical industry response to the passing of smaller-scale actors, where colleagues often gather in large numbers. Tarde noted that while some, including Jackie Shroff and Suresh Wadkar, did attend, others were noticeably absent.The funeral proceedings were attended by several colleagues and friends from the industry, including Anees Bazmee, Mehul Kumar, Rahul Deshpande, Prasad Oak, and Sajid Nadiadwala. Actor Makarand Anaspure, who co-founded the Naam Foundation alongside Patekar, was also present. Tarde concluded by reaffirming that the absence of industry figures did not affect the legacy of the actor, noting that for those present, the genuine outpouring of grief from the farming community was what mattered most.