When Nana Patekar left Bollywood and served in the Indian Army, did this for the country during Kargil War

Do you know Nana Patekar served in the Indian Army from 1990 to 2013? He was a frontline warrior and serving the nation, even during the Kargil War in 1999. Patekar met then-Defence Minister George Fernandes and requested to join the troops. He was trained under Maratha Light Infantry for three years in the early 1990s.

The veteran was placed as an honorary captain and posted at the Line of Control in August 1999.

The actor once said, “Eventually I was a member of the Quick Reaction Team. It is one of the most elite forces. Itna sa toh kuch hum kar sakte hai desh ke liye (At least we can do this for the country.”) He also said, “I was 76 kg when I reached Srinagar. By the time I came back, I was 56 kg.”

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Nana Patekar and Paresh Rawal are two of the finest actors in the Indian film industry. In a recent interview, the latter spoke about the former’s no-nonsense attitude and recalled an incident where he made a producer wash utensils after a meal together. Paresh also revealed that he was the first character artist to demand Rs 1 crore.

“There was this producer – I won’t name him. Nana told him to come home one day. He asked, ‘Do you eat mutton?’ The producer ate. After the meal, Nana said – ‘You ate, right? Now go and wash the dishes.’ That is Nana Patekar- baap hai. Wo alag hi hai. Wo mitti alag hai yaar. (He’s a legend. He’s built different, made from a different mold)," said Paresh Rawal while talking to The Lallantop.

Recalling how demanding 1 crore from Nana Patekar, created a stir, he said. “Even lead heroes didn’t ask for that much. But Nana asked for it – and got it."