Veteran actor Nana Patekar, who died on Thursday at the age of 76, had a lesser-known chapter in his life that went beyond cinema. During the 1999 Kargil War, Patekar put his acting career on hold and sought permission to serve alongside Indian Army personnel at the war front.
Patekar’s association with the armed forces began years earlier. While preparing for his 1991 film Prahaar: The Final Attack, in which he played an Army officer, he underwent three years of rigorous training with the Maratha Light Infantry. The experience brought him closer to the military and strengthened his desire to serve the country.
When the Kargil conflict broke out in 1999, Patekar approached senior Army officials and expressed his wish to join the troops. He was told that such permission would have to come from the Defence Minister. Patekar subsequently contacted then Defence Minister George Fernandes and requested permission to travel to the conflict zone. His request was eventually approved.
Patekar travelled to the Kargil region in August 1999 and spent around 60 days with Army personnel. He served with a Quick Reaction Team and travelled through areas including Dras, Leh, Kupwara, Baramulla and Sopore. He later also assisted at a military hospital in Srinagar.
The actor had recalled that his experience was physically and emotionally demanding. He said he weighed around 76 kilograms when he arrived in Srinagar and returned weighing about 56 kilograms. He also spoke about witnessing wounded soldiers and the bodies of those who had died during the conflict.
Patekar later shared details of his Kargil experience during his appearance on Kaun Banega Crorepati in 2024. He explained that his earlier military training for Prahaar had given him the confidence and background to approach the Army when the war began.
His decision to step away from films at the height of his career and spend time with soldiers remains one of the lesser-known aspects of his life. Patekar died in Goa on Thursday following cardiac arrest, according to reports. He was 76, although some reports have listed his age as 75.
His legacy will be remembered not only for his powerful performances in Hindi and Marathi cinema, but also for this unusual chapter in which he temporarily left the world of films to stand alongside Indian soldiers during one of the country’s most significant military conflicts.
