'Rashid Latif was named nana after Nana Patekar': Ex-Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali says late actor was the same person on and off screen

Former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali has recalled his decades-long friendship with veteran Indian actor Nana Patekar, sharing how the actor stayed connected with him and offered support during difficult moments in his family's life. In an emotional tribute following Patekar's death at 75, Ali spoke about their bond, which began in 1994, and remembered the personal conversations and gestures of care that continued over the years.

Patekar died on October 8 after suffering a severe cardiac arrest at his residence in Dona Paula, Goa. He was found unconscious and taken to Manipal Hospital, where doctors attempted to revive him through continuous cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Their efforts were unsuccessful, and he was declared dead.

News of the actor's passing prompted tributes from beyond India, including members of Pakistan's cricket community. Former Pakistan cricketer Umar Akmal also remembered Patekar in a social media post, while Ali shared a video describing his personal experiences with the actor.


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Basit Ali recalls friendship with Nana Patekar dating back to 1994

Ali said he learnt about Patekar's death early in the morning and found the news difficult to accept. Remembering the actor as both a friend and a remarkable performer, he said their association began in 1994 after they started referring to someone named Latif as “Nana”.

“Early in the morning I heard sad news. Our very dear brother, friend, and living legend is no longer in this world, Nana Patekar Sahab has passed away. What a person he was; he acted in movies exactly as he was in real life. We had nicknamed Latif as 'Nana'. Because of Nana Patekar, we first talked back in 1994, and it all started from there,” Ali said.


The former cricketer recalled that the two remained in regular contact, usually speaking once or twice a month. He said Patekar was particularly attentive when Ali's mother was in hospital, calling every week, offering prayers and spending time talking with her.

Ali said the actor continued to look out for him after his mother's death, reminding him to take care of himself. Patekar also checked on Ali following a heart problem that required him to undergo a stent procedure.

“When my mother passed away, he told me, ‘Hey Basit, take care of yourself now’. And when I had my heart issue and returned home, I received a message asking about my health and telling me to call when I felt better,” Ali recalled.

He added that when they spoke again, Patekar asked how the treatment had gone, including the stent placement.

Former cricketer remembers actor's warmth and humour

Ali also spoke about the easy familiarity they shared when discussing Patekar's films. He said the actor's off-screen personality closely resembled the character people recognised from his performances, and their conversations often included jokes and playful exchanges.

“He was such a wonderful human being. For people who only knew him through movies, he was the exact same person in real life as well,” Ali said.

Recalling how they would sometimes ask Patekar about particular scenes in his films, Ali said the actor would respond humorously, telling them, “Shut up, what do you know?”

Ali described the affection Patekar showed him as that of an elder and said he felt fortunate to have shared so many conversations with the actor.

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Ali says Nana Patekar was loved in Pakistan too

Ali said he was still struggling to believe that Patekar had died, recalling that the actor did not appear to be 75 years old. He said he often called Patekar a “young man”, to which the actor would jokingly respond that they were both getting old.

“I still can't believe this news. The man did not look 75 years old. I used to always call him ‘young man,’ and he would reply, 'Forget it, both you and I are old now'. It is deeply painful,” Ali said.

Concluding his tribute, the former Pakistan cricketer said Patekar had a large following in Pakistan, just as he did in India and elsewhere around the world.

“Nana Ji had as many admirers in Pakistan as he had in India and across the world. People loved him very much,” Ali said.