Former Pakistan cricketer Rashid Latif paid tribute to veteran actor Nana Patekar, who passed away on Thursday, recalling how their conversations began during the Singer Trophy in Colombo in 1994 and continued for years.“I used to speak with him regularly, and it continued for many days. When we were in Colombo in 1994 for the Singer Trophy, Azharuddin and Ajay Jadeja used to arrange for me to speak with him,” Latif said while talking to TimesofIndia.com.Latif also recalled congratulating Patekar when he won the Best Actor award in 1998. He was in South Africa with the Pakistan team at the time and later heard from former India cricketer Ajay Jadeja how Patekar had shared the message with the Indian players.“When he received the Best Actor award in 1998, I was in South Africa with the team, and I had conveyed my congratulations to him. Then when he went and met the Indian team, he told everyone about it, that is what Ajay Jadeja was telling me. He said, “Look, Rashid Latif is Pakistani, he congratulated me, but you people did not,” so yes, I continued speaking with him,” Rashid added.Latif was himself nicknamed “Nana” after the actor, a connection that former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali also recalled while paying tribute to Patekar.“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.Patekar’s death came as a shock to colleagues and friends. Through his roles, the actor often portrayed the anger, helplessness and disillusionment of ordinary people.Just four days before his death, Patekar spoke about the uncertainty of life at an event in Goa. “We all have to go someday. I don’t know whether I will be here tomorrow.”Patekar is survived by his wife, Neelkanti, and son, Malhar.The actor also had a connection with the Indian armed forces. During the Kargil War in 1999, he convinced Defence Minister George Fernandes to let him work with soldiers on the frontline. He spent about 60 days at different locations, including Drass, Mughal Pora and Baramulla, and was also a member of the Quick Reaction Team (QRT).Patekar received three National Film Awards for his performances in Parinda, Krantiveer and Agni Sakshi. His honours also included several Filmfare Awards, the Maharashtra State Film Award, Filmfare Awards Marathi and the Padma Shri, India’s fourth-highest civilian honour.