The death of veteran actor Nana Patekar has left the film industry mourning the loss of one of Indian cinema’s most distinctive personalities. While many have remembered his legendary performances, photographer Atul Kasbekar chose to remember the actor through the unusual, funny and deeply personal moments they shared.
After Nana Patekar’s death on October 8 at the age of 75 following a cardiac arrest, Atul shared a long emotional note along with a monochrome photograph of the actor. In his tribute, he described Nana as “unpredictable, intense and fiercely individualistic” and recalled the warmth and generosity he experienced whenever they met.
But one particular memory stood out — Nana’s remarkably dark sense of humour about his own funeral.
‘What a Man. What a Loss’
Remembering Nana, Atul wrote that they did not meet frequently, but whenever they did, the comfort between them made it feel as though they had met only the previous day.
He described their relationship as wonderfully warm and said Nana had a personality unlike anyone else.
For Atul, Nana could be intimidating on a film set, but away from the cameras, he could also be incredibly generous and caring.
That contrast, according to the photographer, was one of the things that made Nana so memorable.
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A post shared by Atul Kasbekar (@atulkasbekar)
Nana Personally Served Food to Everyone
Atul recalled one of his visits to Nana’s farmhouse in Pune, where he had gone to photograph the actor for one of his photography series.
What stayed with him was not only the photographs but the way Nana treated everyone who was present.
According to Atul, every assistant, spot boy and driver sat together in the main dining area. Nana himself walked around serving food and making sure everyone had enough to eat.
He particularly remembered Nana serving extra rotis and portions of his famous mutton.
There was no hierarchy and no unnecessary show of status.
It was a simple gesture, but for Atul, it revealed another side of the actor — a man who could command an entire film set with just a look, yet personally serve food to the people around him.
Nana’s Fitness and His ‘Show-Off’ Moment
Atul also remembered Nana showing him around his property, including the gym.
During the visit, Nana reportedly performed around a dozen tricep dips without any warm-up.
Atul jokingly described the moment as “Stone cold. No warm-up. Show-off!”
The memory reflected Nana’s personality — intense, confident and always capable of surprising the people around him.
The fitness moment had also become a talking point after a video of Nana performing tricep dips went viral, with fans praising his fitness and energy.
The Firewood Nana Had Kept for His Own Funeral
However, the most unforgettable moment from Atul’s visit came when Nana showed him a stack of firewood.
It was not ordinary firewood.
Nana had apparently prepared it for his own funeral.
Atul recalled that Nana had kept the wood dry. When asked why, Nana gave an answer that perfectly captured his famously dark and playful sense of humour.
He explained that wet wood produces more smoke and he did not want people attending his funeral to cry simply because smoke was getting into their eyes.
For Atul, the moment was so typically Nana that he could not help but remember it with both laughter and sadness.
He described it as a moment of “spectacularly morbid humour”, saying that only Nana could turn the subject of his own cremation into a comedy routine.
The memory now carries a completely different emotional weight following Nana’s death.
‘The Death Feels Like a Punch in the Guts’
While Atul found humour in the memory, his tribute ultimately reflected the pain of losing someone he deeply admired.
He described Nana’s death as a “punch in the guts” and said there would never be another person quite like him.
That sentiment has been echoed across the film industry, where colleagues and fans have been remembering Nana not only for his acting talent but also for his unusual personality, honesty, generosity and ability to leave a lasting impression on everyone around him.
Nana Patekar’s Last Rites to Be Held in Pune
Nana Patekar’s last rites will be performed at his farmhouse in Donje on the outskirts of Pune.
According to Ganesh Thorat, CEO of Nana’s Naam Foundation, the actor’s mortal remains will be brought to Pune at around 5 pm and will later be kept at the farmhouse for fans and others to pay their last respects.
The final rites will be performed on the premises of the farmhouse and will be conducted with state honours.
For an actor who spent decades creating unforgettable characters on screen, his final farewell is now expected to bring together family, friends, colleagues and admirers.
Atul Kasbekar’s memories offer a glimpse of the man behind the famous actor — someone who could be intense and intimidating one moment, generous and warm the next, and capable of finding humour even in the darkest subjects.
Nana Patekar’s films will continue to preserve his legacy on screen, but stories like these remind people that his personality was just as unforgettable as his performances.
There may never be another Nana Patekar — and that is perhaps what makes his loss feel even harder to accept.
