Nana Patekar dies; Gadkari, Bawankule, Mahajan and Rohit Pawar pay tribute

Grief spread across the country and the entertainment world on news of the death of Nana Patekar, a stalwart of Hindi and Marathi cinema. Union Minister Nitin Gadkari and several senior Maharashtra leaders expressed sorrow and paid tribute, recalling moments spent with him.

Gadkari said Patekar was a very close friend and that the two families had enjoyed good relations for many years. According to Gadkari, social awareness, social responsibility and sensitivity towards society were distinguishing qualities of Patekar's personality. He said Patekar had worked with great sensitivity for farmers, water conservation and people affected by farmer suicides.

Gadkari described Patekar as a simple and outspoken man who always helped people and remained sensitive to backward and marginalised sections, farmers and the poor. He said Patekar's work in Hindi and Marathi cinema would be remembered for many years, and called his death an irreparable loss to social and national life. He also recalled that Patekar had gone to Kargil in uniform during the Kargil war, and on many occasions showed his respect for the bravery of soldiers and his patriotism.

Maharashtra Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule said Patekar's passing was a great loss to the country, Maharashtra and Marathi people around the world. He had been closely associated with Patekar for the past 15 to 18 years. Bawankule said Patekar had always tried to do a great deal for farmers. Where there was no electricity, he got power connections provided. He also had a hand in bringing water to farmers' fields under the Jalyukt Shivar initiative during Devendra Fadnavis's government.

BJP Rajya Sabha member Anil Bonde called the death heartbreaking. He said Patekar was not just an actor but also a social worker. Bonde recalled that when farmers were taking their own lives in Vidarbha and Marathwada, Patekar worked extensively through the Naam Foundation to help their families. Children of farmers who died by suicide, especially those with no support, found in Patekar a "Nana" and a brother.

Maharashtra Minister Girish Mahajan said Patekar was a superb actor whose contribution to Hindi and Marathi cinema was significant. He cared deeply about society, people and especially the poor. The work Patekar and Makarand Anaspure did together through their foundation could never be forgotten, he said. Mahajan has been associated with the irrigation department for the past eight years, including the period from 2014 to 2019, and was close to Patekar. He said he could not forget Patekar's concern for farmers, particularly poor farmers. In Mahajan's view, the mark Patekar left through his work was very large, and his death is a huge loss for Maharashtra.

Rohit Pawar, MLA of the Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar), said Maharashtra and the country had suffered a very great loss. Patekar made an important contribution to the film industry and tried to convey meaningful messages to people through many fine films. He also did a great deal of work for water conservation in drought-affected areas and came forward to help whenever there was social work to be done.

Pawar said that whenever he and others requested water-related work in their area through the Naam Foundation, Patekar gladly helped. He said Patekar also shared a special relationship with Ajit Pawar, and that he himself had met Patekar many times. According to Rohit Pawar, he had phoned Patekar during a student agitation and asked him to join it.