GOA: Veteran Bollywood actor Nana Patekar had once prepared a stockpile of dry wood for his own funeral, revealing an unusual side of his personality through a joke about tears and smoke. The anecdote has resurfaced following reports of his death at the age of 75 on October 8.
Photographer Atul Kasbekar recalled the story while paying tribute to the actor, whom he described as unpredictable, intense and fiercely individualistic.
Sharing a monochrome photograph of Patekar, Kasbekar wrote: “Nana Saheb What a man. What a loss.” He added that although they did not meet often, their conversations always felt as though they had seen each other the previous day.
Kasbekar also recalled visiting Patekar’s farmhouse near Pune, where the actor showed him the wood he had collected for his final rites.
Patekar explained his reasoning with characteristic humour, according to Kasbekar. Wet wood, he said, produced more smoke, and he did not want mourners to mistake tears caused by the smoke for tears shed in his memory.
The story offered a glimpse of Patekar’s unconventional humour and his candid approach to a subject many people avoid discussing.
Nana Patekar Had Spoken About His Funeral Plans in 2023
Patekar had also discussed his funeral arrangements publicly in 2023 while promoting his film The Vaccine War.
During an interview, he said he had stored around 12 maunds of wood and wanted dry wood to be used for his final rites. He described the stockpile as his final possession.
Meanwhile, footage of Patekar speaking about the uncertainty of life at a public event in Goa four days before his reported death has also resurfaced.
What Nana Patekar Said Four Days Before His Death
Patekar attended a Samrat Club International event on October 4 in Dona Paula, a coastal area of Goa. During his address, he remembered his late friend Manohar Parrikar, the former chief minister of Goa, and reflected on the inevitability of death.
The actor told the audience that everyone must eventually leave the world. He added that he did not know whether he would still be alive the following day.
He also urged young people to consider whether they had achieved what they wanted before their lives ended.
Patekar questioned whether a life devoted solely to one’s family was enough. Instead, he encouraged people to do something good for the wider world during their lifetime.
His remarks have attracted renewed attention amid reports of his death.
What Happened to Nana Patekar?
According to the supplied reports, Patekar was found unconscious at his residence in Goa early on October 8 and was taken to Manipal Hospital.
Medical teams reportedly attempted cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) for about 45 minutes but could not revive him. Cardiac arrest was cited as the cause of death.
Patekar built a career spanning nearly five decades in Hindi and Marathi cinema. He earned recognition for his intense performances in films including Parinda, Krantiveer and Salaam Bombay!.
