Nana Patekar is one of the most versatile actors in Bollywood. Many don’t know that the actor once quit to join the Indian Army during the Kargil War.
Vishwanath Patekar, popularly known as Nana Patekar, is an Indian actor and filmmaker. He primarily worked in Hindi and Marathi films. The actor is one of Indian cinema’s most admired and influential stars. He has received several awards. But, 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 was the last major conflict between India and Pakistan. However, the 1999 war stirred urgency, fear, and patriotism in the country. We cannot forget the sacrifices it caused.
Nana Patekar’s Courageous Service on the Kargil War Frontlines
As the jawans fought on the frontlines to protect the motherland, the rest of the country tried to support them. Some offered financial support, while others cheered to boost morale.
Amid this, a three-time national award-winning actor, Nana Patekar, quit films at the peak of his career. He then contacted the defence minister 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 experiences in the Indian Army on several occasions. No one can deny that every patriot will forever etch their efforts in their hearts.
In the early 1990s, Nana Patekar trained for three years with the Army’s Maratha Light Infantry while writing his film, Prahaar. But, when the Kargil War broke out, he reached out to the division’s senior officers. He requested to join the men at the front, but they denied him.
That didn’t stop the actor from trying further. They told him that only the defence minister could approve his deployment. So, he contacted the Defence Minister, George Fernandes.
Nana Patekar Lost 20 Kgs Serving on the Frontlines
Nana Patekar joined as the honorary Captain of the Indian Army. We fought 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.
But, the exertion, stress, and intensity of the situation had a profound effect on him. Nana lost over 20 kgs while working as a part of the Quick Response Team (QRT) during his time in Kargil.
The grueling conditions would have affected anyone. But, Nana stuck by the Army and did his duty as a soldier. 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’s Military Career
Nana Patekar joined the Indian Army as an honorary captain during the Kargil War in 1999. The actor trained for three years with the Territorial Army and the Maratha Light Infantry.
Then, he served a brief stint in the military. The organization promoted the actor from honorary captain to lieutenant colonel. However, he retired from the military in 2013 at the age of 62.
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Nana Patekar resumed his film career after returning from the Kargil War
Nana Patekar rose to prominence for his role as ‘Baba’ in Mira Nair’s 1988 film, Salaam Bombay. His portrayal of the crime lord ‘Anna Seth in the 1989 crime drama Parinda earned him wide acclaim. The actor was riding 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 returned to films after Kargil. He played ‘CBI Inspector Jasraj Patel’ in the 2000 crime drama, Tarkieb.
He found his footing in the film fraternity once again. Since then, he has made some of the most successful and acclaimed Indian films. The actor created a space for himself with his unique acting skills and persona. The actor was last seen in Anil Sharma’s Vanvaas. He played ‘Partap Singhania.’ The film hit theaters in December 2024.