Nana Patekar Cremated With State Honours in Pune; Goa Police Open Enquiry as Amitabh Bachchan Pays KBC Tribute

Veteran actor Nana Patekar was cremated with full state honours at his Donje farmhouse near Pune on Thursday, 8 October 2026, after his death in Goa earlier that morning, according to Bollywood Hungama. Panaji Police have registered an unnatural death case, while Amitabh Bachchan paid an emotional tribute on Kaun Banega Crorepati 18, The Indian Express reported.

Nana Patekar Death and Funeral Key Facts

Detail	Information
Date and age	Died on 8 October 2026, aged 75, according to Bollywood Hungama and The Indian Express; the police record quoted by ANI described him as 76
Reported cause	Severe cardiac arrest at his Goa residence, according to Bollywood Hungama
Funeral	Full state honours at Donje farmhouse near Pune on Thursday night
Last rites	Performed by his son Malhar Patekar
Police enquiry	Unnatural death case under Section 194 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita
Television tribute	Amitabh Bachchan remembered Patekar on Kaun Banega Crorepati 18
Films awaiting release	Shakti Shalini, Eetha, Vedantam, Kuku Ki Kundali and The Confession of Mary
Marathi KBC premiere	Sonali Bendre replaces Patekar as guest on 12 October

How Did Nana Patekar Die in Goa

According to Bollywood Hungama, Patekar suffered a severe cardiac arrest at his residence in Dona Paula, Goa. He was found unresponsive early on Thursday and taken to Manipal Hospital, where medical personnel reportedly attempted cardiopulmonary resuscitation for approximately 45 minutes. The outlet stated that he was declared dead at around 5:20 AM IST.

Bollywood Hungama said Patekar's son, Malhar, subsequently confirmed his death. Police records quoted by the outlet identified the actor as Vishwanath (Nana) Gajanan Patekar and stated that he was brought dead to the casualty ward of Manipal Hospital in Bambolim from Ocean Park, Dona Paula.

Following his death, Patekar's mortal remains were transported to Pune in accordance with his wishes. Bollywood Hungama reported that he had expressed a desire to be cremated at his Donje farmhouse.

Why Did Goa Police Register an Unnatural Death Case

Panaji Police registered an unnatural death case under Section 194 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, according to Bollywood Hungama. The enquiry into the circumstances surrounding the actor's death is being led by PSI Nitin Naik.

Bollywood Hungama explained that an unnatural death case is registered as part of police procedure to examine the circumstances of a death. Registration alone does not establish wrongdoing. The police enquiry was ongoing as of 9 October.

The funeral took place on Thursday night at the Donje farmhouse, popularly known as Nanachi Wadi, according to The Indian Express. Malhar performed the last rites and lit the funeral pyre in the presence of family members, friends and film industry colleagues.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced full state honours in recognition of Patekar's work in cinema and his social initiatives, Bollywood Hungama reported. Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde also paid their respects at Pune airport. Jackie Shroff, producer Sajid Nadiadwala and filmmaker Anil Sharma were among those attending the funeral.

After the cremation, Malhar spoke about continuing his father's ideals. Bollywood Hungama quoted him saying, "A person like Nana Saheb never truly leaves us; his achievements have made him immortal."

What Did Amitabh Bachchan Say About Nana Patekar on KBC 18

Amitabh Bachchan opened Thursday's episode of Kaun Banega Crorepati 18 with a tribute to Patekar, according to The Indian Express. He remembered him as a friend, an exceptional artist and a social worker whose contribution extended beyond cinema.

Bachchan called Patekar "An unparalleled artist, a friend, a well-wisher, and an exceptional social worker" and described his death as a personal loss to those who knew him. He highlighted Patekar's fearlessness, simplicity and willingness to speak plainly.

In his personal farewell, Bachchan said, "Nana, I offer you my deepest personal respects." He also praised the dedication and honesty with which Patekar approached acting. The Indian Express noted that the two had worked together in Mehul Kumar's 1999 film Kohram.

Bachchan recalled Patekar's earlier appearance as a special guest on KBC and his decision to dedicate his prize money to social work. He remembered Patekar's efforts to support farmers in Maharashtra villages affected by insufficient rainfall.

During his 2024 appearance on the quiz show, Patekar had discussed his preference for living at his Pune farmhouse. According to The Indian Express, his routine included exercising, tending to his fields, cooking meals and reading. Explaining his outlook, he said, "When your needs are limited, life becomes very easy."

Patekar also invited Bachchan to spend a week in the village and associate with the Naam Foundation. The Indian Express reported that Patekar co-founded the organisation with actor Makarand Anaspure in 2015 to help drought-affected farmers and communities in Maharashtra through water-related initiatives and other support.

Which Nana Patekar Films Will Release After His Death

The Indian Express reported that Patekar had several projects awaiting release, although not all were complete. The films named were Shakti Shalini, Eetha, Vedantam, Kuku Ki Kundali and The Confession of Mary. His last film to receive a screening was The Confession of Mary at the Toronto International Film Festival.

Shakti Shalini, directed by Aditya Sarpotdar, belongs to Maddock Films' horror-comedy universe and stars Aneet Padda. Patekar plays an occultist helping the lead character. The story involves Shakti, who protects an ordinary woman named Shalini, and a spirit that avenges her murder.

Sarpotdar told India Today, in comments carried by The Indian Express, that he had spoken with Patekar days before his death. The director recalled that the actor was "really excited to come and just watch the final edit, do a bit of dubbing." He also described Patekar as closely involved in improving dialogue, supporting co-actors and participating in the creative process.

Eetha, directed by Laxman Utekar, is a biographical film about Marathi folk and lavani performer Vithabai Narayangaonkar, according to The Indian Express. Shraddha Kapoor plays the title role alongside cast members including Randeep Hooda and Anant Joshi. Patekar's character details have been kept under wraps, and the film remains in production.

Kuku Ki Kundali, directed by Sharan Sharma, features Wamiqa Gabbi, Bhuvan Bam and Patekar. The Indian Express described its story as a romance disrupted by a horoscope-related complication affecting the couple and their families. Its release date has not been announced.

The Indian Express also listed Vedantam among Patekar's upcoming Hindi films. The outlet did not provide further production details for that title.

The Confession of Mary, directed by Ananth Mahadevan, concerns the death of Mariyakutty in 1966 and the arrest of a priest who was subsequently acquitted and released. Patekar plays the priest. Although screened at the Toronto International Film Festival, the film awaits its Indian release.

Producer Shreyans Hirawat told SCREEN, as quoted by The Indian Express, "We had completed his entire shooting schedule, and thankfully, most of his dubbing work was also done." He said some minor dialogue changes remained, but emphasised that the loss of Patekar mattered far more than technical or commercial concerns.

Why Did Madhuri Dixit's Marathi KBC Premiere Plans Change

Patekar was scheduled to shoot the premiere episode of Sony Marathi's Kon Honar Crorepati on Thursday, according to Hindustan Times. His appearance would have reunited him with Madhuri Dixit, his co-star in the 1998 film Wajood, but his death led to Sonali Bendre stepping in as the celebrity guest.

Madhuri posted a tribute on Instagram, describing Patekar as "A great artist, a powerful personality and an unforgettable voice…" She expressed condolences to his family and loved ones, Hindustan Times reported.

Kon Honar Crorepati premieres on Sony Marathi and Sony LIV on Monday, 12 October, at 9 PM. Madhuri takes over as host, while Sonali will play for the Happy Pet Foundation. According to Hindustan Times, the opening episode also brings Madhuri and Sonali together on screen for the first time, despite their long careers in Hindi cinema.

Frequently asked questions

Where was Nana Patekar cremated and who performed his last rites?

According to Bollywood Hungama, Patekar was cremated with full state honours at his Donje farmhouse near Pune on 8 October 2026. His son Malhar performed the last rites and lit the funeral pyre.

What did Amitabh Bachchan say about Nana Patekar on KBC 18?

The Indian Express reported that Bachchan remembered Patekar as an exceptional artist, friend and dedicated social worker. He also recalled Patekar's earlier KBC appearance and the donation of his prize money towards social work.

Which films featuring Nana Patekar are awaiting release?

The Indian Express named Shakti Shalini, Eetha, Vedantam, Kuku Ki Kundali and The Confession of Mary among his pending releases. The Confession of Mary has already screened at the Toronto International Film Festival but awaits release in India.