Nana Patekar Served Indian Army During The Kargil War, Joined Jawans And Patrolled At The LOC

Vishwanath Patekar, popularly known as Nana Patekar, is a prominent name in Hindi and Marathi cinema. Nana never had the looks of a quintessential hero to charm the audience as his powerpack performances were enough to do the talking. A rage in the 90s, Nana is a three-time National Award winner.

Born in 1951, Nana’s cinematic journey began with his acting debut in 1978 in the film, Gaman. With films like Parinda, Prahaar, Angaar, Salaam Bombay, Tirangaa, and more, Nana established himself as one of the most sought-after actors in the Hindi film industry. Apart from his love for acting, Nana is also devoted towards his nation. The actor, who has done many patriotic films, once served his country during the 1999 Kargil War.

Nana Patekar took training under the Maratha Light Infantry

During the making of Prahaar, Nana Patekar underwent rigorous training for three years with the Maratha Light Infantry. During the Kargil War in 1999, Nana expressed his desire to join forces to serve the country. Initially, military officials were against Nana’s wish, but he was not ready to budge. Nana also cited the example of his national-level shooting experience, but nothing happened.

Nana Patekar convinced Defence Minister, George Fernandes

Despite all the opposition, Nana was not ready to back out. He was told by the senior military officials that only the Defence Ministry could approve it. Nana tried to convince the then Defence Minister, George Fernandes, but he too refused. During his appearance at Kaun Banega Crorepati, Nana shared his experience and said:

“I knew our Defence Minister George Fernandes ji, so I called him. Even he said it is impossible. I told him that even though the training for commission is six months, I trained for three years. He was surprised and asked me about it. After learning of my experience with the Maratha Light Infantry, he asked me, ‘When do you want to go?’”

Nana Patekar wore the Indian Army’s uniform and patrolled the LOC

It was sheer love Nana had for his country that made him decide to stand with his countrymen to protect his nation. In August 1999, Nana was officially posted as an honorary captain with the Indian Army. He wore his uniform with pride and was stationed in conflict-prone areas like Dras, Kupwara, Baramulla, Sopore, and Mughalpura.

He patrolled the Line of Control along with the other soldiers and also assisted in military hospitals. Though Nana lost a lot of weight, his heart was filled with pride to have served his nation. In an interview with The Lallantop, Nana spoke about losing 20 kgs while working as a part of the Quick Response Team (QRT) during his time in Kargil. In his words:

“I was 76 kg when I reached Srinagar. By the time I came back, I was 56 kg."

After his military services, Nana was promoted from the position of honorary Captain to Lieutenant Colonel. He soon returned to acting and gave back-to-back stellar performances. Nana was also involved in many charitable activities, not just on the battlefield. He also supported drought-hit farmers through his NGO, Naam Foundation.

Nana Patekar proved that he is not just a hero on the silver screen but in battleground too. While people hailed him as a prolific actor, his unwavering love for his nation is way beyond any recognition.

Also Read: Meet Disha Patani's Sister, Khushboo Patani, Joined Indian Army After Facing Abuse And Bullying

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