Nana Patekar is one of the most versatile actors in Bollywood. However, many don't know the actor had once quit the film industry to serve alongside the Indian Army during the Kargil War.
Vishwanath Patekar, whom we know as Nana Patekar, is an Indian actor and filmmaker who predominantly worked in Hindi and Marathi cinema. Widely regarded as one of the most spectacular and influential actors in Indian cinema, the actor has received several accolades. However, not many are aware that the actor served the country as part of the Indian Army from 1990 to 2013.
The Kargil War is written down as one of the most important incidents in modern Indian history. The war marked the last major armed conflict between India and its neighbouring country, Pakistan. However, one cannot forget how the 1999 war awakened a sense of urgency, fear, patriotism and sacrifice in the country.
As the jawans fought on the frontlines, protecting the motherland with their lives, the rest of the country tried to do their part to support them. Some came forward with financial support, and others screamed slogans of cheers and support to build morale. Amid this, Nana Patekar, who was a three-time national award-winning actor at the time, quit the films at the peak of his acting career and contacted the minister of defence to allow him to fight for his motherland.
Nana Patekar had put his career as an actor on hold to help the country and the Indian Army during the Kargil War. The legendary actor shared his experience in the Indian Army on several occasions. There is no denying that his efforts will forever be etched in the hearts of every patriot.
Nana Patekar lived and trained for three years in the early 1990s with the Maratha Light Infantry of the Army while writing his film, Prahaar. However, when the Kargil War broke out, he reached out to the senior officers from the division and requested that he be allowed to join the men on the front, but he was denied. That didn't stop the actor from trying further. He was told that only the defence minister could approve his deployment, so he contacted the Defence Minister at the time, George Fernandes.
He recalled that the defence minister had also denied his deployment. However, it changed as soon as he heard about Nana's three-year training experience. Talking about the same with the Lallantop in 2024, the actor was quoted saying:
"I wanted to be a part of the Kargil War, and George Fernandes was the Defence Minister at that time. I had completed a commando course, and I am a good shooter with national-level experience in the 300m rifle category. I expressed my desire to join, but when I called General Patan, he said they couldn't take me because I was a civilian. I then called Fernandes, who also denied saying that civilians are not allowed. I then said that it takes six months to get a commission, and I had already spent three years in training. He asked me when I wanted to go, and I said, 'Today.' And so it happened."
Nana Patekar joined the forefront as the honorary Captain of the Indian Army soon after, and we were fighting close to the LoC for over a fortnight in August 1999. The actor helped the soldiers and even worked in the hospital base for a few days. However, the exertion, stress, and intensity of the situation affected him deeply. Nana lost over 20 kgs while working as a part of the Quick Response Team (QRT) during his time in Kargil. The gruelling conditions would've impacted anyone, however, Nana stuck by the Army and performed his duties as a soliders. Sharing about the weight loss, he revealed:
"I was 76 kg when I reached Srinagar. By the time I came back, I was 56 kg."
Nana Patekar joined the Indian Army as an honorary Captain during the Kargil War in 1999. The actor had trained with the Territorial Army and Maratha Light Infantry for three years before serving a brief tenure in the military. The actor was promoted from the position of honorary Captain to Lieutenant Colonel. However, he retired from the military in 2013 at the age of 62.
Nana Patekar rose to prominence with his performance in Mira Nair's Salaam Bombay in 1988, where he played the role of 'Baba'. He received widespread critical acclaim with his portrayal of the crime lord, 'Anna Seth' in the 1989 crime drama Parinda. The actor was riding a high in his career during that time when he decided to drop everything and join the army. However, he did not leave the career altogether. The actor resumed his film career after returning from Kargil in the role of 'CBI Inspector Jasraj Patel' in the 2000 crime drama Tarkieb.
He once again found his footing in the film fraternity and has since given some of the most successful and acclaimed Indian films of all time. The actor created a space for himself with his unique acting skills and persona. The actor was most recently seen in Anil Sharma's Vanvaas in the role of 'Partap Singhania', which was released in theatres in December 2024.
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