Malhar Patekar says his parents stayed emotionally close despite living apart

Filmmaker Malhar Patekar has spoken about his father Nana Patekar’s final hours and his parents’ relationship.

Nana, a veteran actor, died aged 75 in Goa after a cardiac arrest and was given a state funeral.

Nana and Neelkanthi Patekar married in 1978 but lived apart for about 35 years without legally divorcing.

Malhar says they remained on good terms and emotionally connected despite living separately.

He recalled that his father was in Goa, while a cousin had gone to Mumbai for work and his brother had left after settling Nana upstairs at home.

Malhar says family members were always with his father in his final days, rejecting claims that Nana was alone or unwell.

His account also challenges the idea that a family’s closeness can be judged by what it shares on social media.