Kargil Vijay Diwas: Did you know THIS national award-winning Bollywood actor served in Indian Army during Kargil War?

Time of India

7 days ago

As India celebrates
Kargil Vijay Diwas
, honouring the brave soldiers who fought in the 1999
Kargil War
, one name from the world of films shines in a different light,
Nana Patekar
. Known for his intense roles and award-winning performances, the veteran actor did something truly remarkable. He left the comfort of film sets and joined the
Indian Army
during the war, putting his life on the line alongside real soldiers.
Not a typical Bollywood-style hero
Vishwanath Patekar, famously known as Nana Patekar, is one of the finest actors in Hindi and Marathi cinema. Born in 1951, Nana made his film debut in 'Gaman' in 1978. In the years that followed, he won hearts with films like 'Parinda', 'Prahaar', 'Angaar', 'Salaam Bombay', and 'Tirangaa'. He may not have looked like the usual Bollywood hero, but his power-packed performances spoke louder than anything else. A huge name in the 90s, Nana is also a three-time National Award winner.
He trained with real-life soldiers
While shooting 'Prahaar', Nana went through serious military training. As reported by BollywoodShaadis, he trained with the Maratha Light Infantry for three years. This wasn't just for the cameras—it left a strong impact on him. When the Kargil War broke out in 1999, Nana didn't just cheer from the sidelines. He wanted to join the Army and serve the nation for real. But his wish was met with hesitation by military officials.
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Officials refused his request at first
At first, the army officials didn't agree with his request. Nana wasn't ready to give up so easily. He even mentioned his national-level shooting experience, hoping it would help, but still, nothing moved forward.
Nana reached out to
George Fernandes
When he was told only the Defence Ministry could approve his request, Nana went straight to the top. He contacted the then Defence Minister, George Fernandes. During his appearance on 'Kaun Banega Crorepati', Nana shared:
'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 patrolled in conflict-hit zones
In August 1999, Nana officially joined the Army as an honorary captain.
His dream had come true. Wearing the Indian Army uniform with pride, he was posted in some of the most dangerous areas during the war—Dras, Kupwara, Baramulla, Sopore, and Mughalpura.
He did everything that the other soldiers did. He patrolled the
Line of Control
, stood guard, and even helped out in military hospitals. Nana didn't just visit the camps for photos—he lived like a soldier.
Lost 20 kg while on duty
Life at the border was not easy. Nana was part of the Quick Response Team (QRT) and saw the war up close. Speaking to The Lallantop, Nana said:
'I was 76 kg when I reached Srinagar.
By the time I came back, I was 56 kg.' He lost 20 kg during his time at the front. But instead of complaining, he felt proud to have stood with India's brave soldiers in a real war zone.
Returned to acting with more power
Once his service ended, Nana returned to films. His passion for acting never faded, but now, he had a new layer of experience and pride. He gave back-to-back strong performances and continued to impress audiences with his honest and powerful screen presence.