Mumbai: Nana Patekar’s connection with the Indian Army goes beyond the roles he played on screen. During the 1999 Kargil War, the actor spent nearly two months with Army personnel after seeking permission to be with troops in the conflict zone.
Patekar had already developed a close connection with the military while preparing for his 1991 film Prahaar: The Final Attack. For the film, he underwent rigorous training with the Maratha Light Infantry. That experience, he later said, gave him a deeper understanding of the lives of soldiers.
When the Kargil conflict broke out, Patekar wanted to do more than simply express his support. He approached then Defence Minister George Fernandes and sought permission to travel to the area. According to Patekar’s later account, he was allowed to spend time with soldiers in places including Dras.
In a 2024 interview, Patekar said he stayed with the forces for around 60 days and was associated with a Quick Reaction Team. He did not reveal operational details, saying there were things he could not speak about.
He also recalled how physically demanding the experience was. Patekar said he weighed around 76 kg when he arrived but returned at about 56 kg.
There is, however, an important clarification to the popular story. Patekar was not a regular Army soldier deployed to fight in the Kargil War. Reports from the period described him as an actor who had received permission to stay with troops and visit military positions.
His association with the Army continued in later years, including through his honorary Territorial Army role.
For Patekar, the Kargil experience appears to have been less about publicity and more about being close to soldiers during one of India’s most difficult military conflicts. His own recollections have kept that unusual chapter of his life in the public memory.
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