Nana Patekar’s Death: Here’s Why The Actor’s Last Rites Were Performed At Midnight

Following the funeral, Malhar addressed the media and spoke about the legacy his father had left behind. He said Nana’s contribution to cinema was only one part of his lasting impact, adding that his humanitarian outlook and social work would continue to inspire people through the initiatives he had established, particularly the Naam Foundation.

Reflecting on his father’s philosophy and the work that remains, Malhar said, “A person like Nana Saheb never truly leaves us. Through their work, they become immortal. Secondly, his mindset was always consistent; he would frequently repeat the line, ‘Let’s get together in the name of humanity and work for the betterment of the world.’ Through our organisation, work was already underway in the water sector, and large-scale initiatives in education and health had begun in Kashmir as well. Thirdly, he assigned specific responsibilities to everyone before he left.”

Nana died in Goa on Thursday morning following a cardiac arrest. His mortal remains were brought to the family farmhouse in Pune later that day, and the funeral took place late into the night.

Malhar was also asked why the family had chosen to conduct the last rites so late in the evening. Explaining the delay, he said the family had been in Goa and had expected the body to reach the farmhouse earlier than it did.

Thousands of people from various walks of life bid adieu to veteran actor Nana Patekar late on Thursday (October 8, 2026) night as his mortal remains were consigned to flames at his farmhouse in Donje village in Pune district.

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“We were in Goa, and his mortal remains were to be brought to the farmhouse in the village. We expected it to arrive earlier, but it took us some time. We proceeded (with the last rites today) because the tragedy occurred early this morning, so a significant amount of time had already passed. That is why we decided to go ahead with it today,” he told reporters.

Even as the film industry mourns the loss of the veteran performer, Malhar’s words underscored the family’s intention to carry forward the humanitarian work and values that Nana championed throughout his life.