'He was the same on and off screen' - Basit Ali remembers late Nana Patekar's years of friendship and support

Pakistani cricketer Basit Ali shared an emotional tribute to veteran actor Nana Patekar, who passed away on October 8 at the age of 75. Patekar suffered a cardiac arrest and could not be revived despite medical efforts. The actor was rushed to hospital but could not be saved.

Basit recalled how his friendship with Nana began in 1994 and deepened over three decades of regular contact. The two spoke once or twice every month, maintaining a bond that transcended their different professions and countries. During difficult periods in Basit's life, Nana demonstrated consistent care and genuine concern for his wellbeing and that of his family.

"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," Basit said as quoted by Times of India.

A friendship that began in 1994

When Basit's mother was hospitalised, Nana called every week to check on her condition. The actor would offer prayers and spend considerable time talking with Basit's mother, listening to her stories and offering companionship during her illness. After her death, Nana continued to reach out to Basit, offering support and encouragement during his grief. Basit reflected on the depth of Nana's concern during his own health challenges.

"Now there are so many memories. Usually, we spoke once or twice every month. When my mother was alive and in the hospital, Nana Ji called every week. He offered many prayers, talked at length with my mother, and listened to old stories. 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. When I called him back, he inquired about how everything went, including the stent placement," said Basit.

"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. People praised him, and we were fortunate to have many conversations. Sometimes we would ask him about a specific scene in a movie, and he would playfully say, 'Shut up, what do you know?'. The love and affection he gave as an elder was truly incredible," he added.

Nana Patekar's mortal remains were flown from Goa to Pune, where his last rites were performed on Thursday evening at his farmhouse at Donje near Khadakwasla with full state honours. His wife Neelkanti and son Malhar were present during the ceremony.

"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. And I will say one thing here: Nana Ji had as many admirers in Pakistan as he had in India and across the world. People loved him very much," Basit concluded.