Veteran actor Nana Patekar, one of Indian cinema’s most distinctive performers, passed away at his Goa residence in the early hours of Thursday. Known for his powerful performances in Hindi and Marathi cinema, Patekar leaves behind a career spanning decades and a lesser-known association with the Indian armed forces that reflected his deep sense of patriotism and duty.
Patekar was a recipient of three National Film Awards and several Filmfare and Maharashtra State Film Awards. He was also honoured with the Padma Shri, one of India’s highest civilian awards.
Yet, beyond his celebrated film career, Patekar had an extraordinary connection with the Indian Army.
He Trained Like a Soldier for Prahaar
Patekar’s association with the armed forces began while he was preparing for his directorial debut, Prahaar: The Final Attack, released in 1991. In the film, he played Major Pratap Chauhan, but he wanted the military sequences to reflect the discipline and realities of soldiers rather than simply imitate them on camera.
He underwent around three years of rigorous training with the Maratha Light Infantry (MLI), including training at the Commando Training Centre in Belagavi.
His commitment went far beyond preparing for a film. In 1990, Patekar joined the Territorial Army as an Honorary Captain.
During his training, he also trained under then-Captain Vijay Kumar Singh, who would later rise to become General V.K. Singh, Chief of Army Staff and subsequently a Union Minister. Singh also made a brief appearance as a briefing officer in Prahaar.
He Asked to Serve During the Kargil War
Patekar’s association with the armed forces became even more significant during the 1999 Kargil War.
When the conflict broke out, Patekar approached then-Defence Minister George Fernandes and requested permission to serve alongside the armed forces.
In August 1999, he spent more than two weeks near the Line of Control with the Maratha Light Infantry, as part of a Quick Reaction Team (QRT) involved in security and reconnaissance duties. He also volunteered at a base hospital, contributing to the support effort for soldiers.
His role should not be confused with that of a regular combat soldier deployed in frontline combat. His contribution during the Kargil period involved security, reconnaissance, troop support and voluntary service. But his decision to leave the world of cinema and personally place himself alongside soldiers during the conflict remains a notable chapter of his life.
For Patekar, patriotism was not simply something he portrayed before a camera.
From Honorary Captain to Lieutenant Colonel
Patekar remained associated with the Territorial Army for more than two decades.
His military association continued until 2013, when he retired from the Territorial Army as an Honorary Lieutenant Colonel.
The journey was remarkable: an actor who initially underwent military training for a film eventually became an Honorary Captain, sought permission to serve during the Kargil conflict, remained associated with the Territorial Army for decades and eventually retired as an Honorary Lieutenant Colonel.
Lt Col (Hony) Nana Patekar – We will miss you sir!
– Joined Territorial Army in 1990 as Captain (Honorary) after he did 3 years of rigorous training with MLI for his film Prahaar: The Final Attack (1991) where he played Major Pratap Chauhan.
– He trained with then Captain VK Singh (Later Gen VK Singh – Army Chief and Minister after retirement.
– During 1999 Kargil War, he requested Defence Minister Mr George Fernandes to allow him to serve. He spent over 2 weeks at the front near LoC in August 1999 with the Maratha Light Infantry, part of the Quick Reaction Team (QRT) for security/reconnaissance and even volunteered in the base hospital.
– He remained in TA till 2013 and retired as Honorary Lieutenant Colonel.— Major Madhan Kumar (Retd)🇮🇳 (@major_madhan) October 8, 2026
His Tamil Connection
Tamil audiences also have their own memories of Nana Patekar.
Before his widely remembered role as Haridev Abhayankar opposite Rajinikanth in Pa. Ranjith’s Kaala (2018), Patekar had already appeared in Tamil cinema in Bharathiraja’s Bommalattam (2008).
His performances crossed linguistic and cinematic boundaries, but his association with the armed forces added another dimension to the actor’s public life.
Nana Patekar was known for playing intense characters on screen. But his relationship with the Indian armed forces was not merely a cinematic performance.
He trained with soldiers. He joined the Territorial Army. He sought permission to serve during the Kargil War. He spent time with troops near the LoC and volunteered at a military hospital. And he remained associated with the Territorial Army until retiring as an Honorary Lieutenant Colonel in 2013.
As Indian cinema mourns the loss of Nana Patekar, audiences will remember the extraordinary actor, director and performer. But his military journey deserves to be remembered too, as the story of an actor whose commitment to portraying the soldier on screen eventually became a decades-long association with the men and women who serve the country.
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