Nana Patekar was already an established film star when he made an unusual decision in 1999: he stepped away from cinema to serve alongside Indian soldiers during the Kargil War, writes Hindustan Times.
Patekar, who died on Thursday at 75 after a cardiac arrest at his Goa residence, had already won two National Awards when the conflict broke out. His long-standing association with the Army, however, pushed him to seek permission to join troops at the frontline.
The actor had spent three years training with the Maratha Light Infantry while preparing for his directorial film ‘Prahaar: The Final Attack’.
When the war began, he approached senior Army officers but was initially refused. He then contacted then Defence Minister George Fernandes, who eventually approved his request.
Patekar spent more than two weeks near the Line of Control in August 1999. He assisted soldiers and also worked for several days at a military hospital. He later recalled serving with a Quick Response Team.
The experience came at a physical cost. Patekar said he weighed 76kg when he reached Srinagar but returned weighing just 56kg after the gruelling stint.
His decision to serve at the front became one of the most remarkable chapters of a career defined not only by cinema but also by his connection with the armed forces and humanitarian work.
