Beyond his celebrated film career, veteran actor Nana Patekar served the nation during the 1999 Kargil War. After undergoing three years of training in the early 90s, Patekar approached then Defence Minister George Fernandes and got permission to join the troops.
From a Small Beginning to a Dream Called Cinema
The passing of Nana Patekar has left Indian cinema mourning one of its most distinctive voices and performers.
Born on December 1, 1951, in Murud-Janjira, Maharashtra, Nana Patekar grew up in a modest family and faced financial struggles from an early age. But despite the challenges around him, he developed a strong passion for art and performance. His journey towards acting was not an overnight success; it was built through determination, hard work, and a willingness to start from the ground up.
Drawn towards theatre and acting, Patekar began pursuing his dream at a time when there was no guarantee that it would lead to fame or success. He worked in theatre before making his way into films, gradually sharpening his craft and developing the intense, natural style that would later become his trademark.
Long before audiences knew him as one of Indian cinema’s most powerful performers, Nana Patekar was simply an aspiring actor determined to make a place for himself in the world of cinema.
Nana Patekar’s Kargil Connection
Nana Patekar’s association with the armed forces began long before the Kargil War. While preparing for his 1991 film Prahaar: The Final Attack, in which he played an Army officer, Patekar underwent rigorous military training with the Maratha Light Infantry. The experience gave him a deeper understanding of the discipline and challenges faced by soldiers.
But in 1999, when the Kargil War broke out, his connection with the armed forces moved far beyond the silver screen. Rather than simply portraying a soldier in a film, Patekar wanted to stand alongside the real heroes fighting on the front. He approached senior Army officers seeking permission to join the troops and was eventually directed to then Defence Minister George Fernandes.
After receiving permission, Patekar spent around 60 days with Army personnel during the conflict and recalled being associated with a Quick Reaction Team. He also spent time in areas including Dras, Leh, Kupwara, Baramulla and Sopore. Years later, speaking about the experience, he chose not to reveal operational details, keeping the focus on what mattered to him — being able to contribute alongside the soldiers.
For an actor who had spent years bringing brave characters to life on screen, Kargil became a moment when the line between the performer and the person seemed to disappear. He was no longer portraying a soldier for an audience; he was standing with soldiers during one of the country’s most difficult moments.
The experience came at a considerable physical cost. Patekar later recalled that he weighed 76 kg when he reached Srinagar, but returned at just 56 kg after roughly two months with the Army — a loss of around 20 kg. Yet, despite the difficult conditions, he described the experience with a sense of fulfilment, saying he was happy that he could do at least something for the country.
His Kargil experience revealed a side of Nana Patekar that audiences rarely saw on screen. Away from the cameras and film sets, he chose to spend time with the soldiers and experience, in his own way, the harsh realities they faced.
