Director Pravin Tarde Slams Bollywood's Absence at Nana Patekar's Funeral: 'Industry is Not Bigger Than Him'

Indian cinema recently suffered an irreparable loss with the passing of veteran actor Nana Patekar, a towering figure in Marathi theatre and cinema who also left an indelible mark on Bollywood. Following his tragic demise due to a heart attack at his Goa home, his last rites were performed at his Pune farmhouse, drawing a massive wave of grief from fans.

Questions Raised Over Bollywood's Absence

While regional cinema figures, close friends like Jackie Shroff and Suresh Wadkar, and countless admirers gathered to pay their final respects, the notable absence of several mainstream Bollywood stars sparked widespread debate. Marathi filmmaker Pravin Tarde openly voiced his strong displeasure during a media interaction, questioning why those who claimed to be close to Patekar failed to show up.

'Bollywood is Not Bigger Than Nana'

Slamming the attitude of the Hindi film fraternity, Tarde remarked, "The absence of Bollywood folks does not diminish Nana's greatness. Bollywood is not bigger than Nana. He was a phenomenal human being, much more than just an actor." Comparing the attendees, Tarde praised the thousands of farmers who arrived in their simple clothes, stating that their presence carried the authentic fragrance of soil and sweat, far outweighing those who roam around in perfume in metropolitan film circles.