New Delhi: Veteran actor and former Territorial Army officer Nana Patekar died on Thursday morning at the age of 75 after suffering a cardiac arrest at his residence in Dona Paula, Goa. His son Malhar Patekar confirmed his death to local media. Patekar was found unconscious at his home and taken to Manipal Hospital, where he was declared dead at around 5.20am.
Patekar’s passing has brought back memories not only of his four-decade career in Hindi and Marathi cinema, but also of a moment that took him away from film sets to the Indian Army. His association with the Army began while preparing for a film and eventually led him to seek permission to be with troops during the 1999 Kargil War.
How Prahaar led Nana Patekar to the Army
The connection began with Prahaar: The Final Attack, the 1991 film that Patekar directed and starred in. To prepare for his role as an Army officer, he trained with the Maratha Light Infantry for three years, spending considerable time learning the discipline and routines associated with military life.
That experience helped him later when the Kargil conflict broke out in 1999. Patekar, who had already joined the Territorial Army as a captain in 1988, wanted to go to the conflict area and support the soldiers. His request, however, could not be cleared at the local level because he was a civilian and needed approval from then defence minister, George Fernandes.
Patekar later described the conversation during his appearance on Kaun Banega Crorepati 16. He told actor Amitabh Bachchan that he contacted then George Fernandes after being told that only the minister could approve his request.
Fernandes initially told him that it would not be possible for a civilian to go to the frontline. Patekar then explained the three years of military training he had completed with the Maratha Light Infantry while preparing for Prahaar. After hearing about his experience, Fernandes asked him when he wanted to go, Patekar recalled. His response was that he was ready to leave immediately.
The permission eventually allowed Patekar to travel to Srinagar and join Army personnel during the Kargil conflict. He later recalled moving through military areas and spending time with troops during the conflict, including being associated with a quick reaction team.
Patekar’s experience was not limited to being around soldiers in the field. He also recalled spending several days at the Badamibagh Army base in Srinagar, where he worked in a military hospital treating personnel brought in with battle related injuries.
The conditions also had a major physical impact on him. Patekar recalled that he weighed around 76kg when he arrived in Srinagar but returned weighing about 56kg after his time with the Army.
Patekar continued his Army association after Kargil
The Kargil experience became one of the most unusual chapters of Patekar’s life, but his relationship with the Army did not end with the conflict. He continued serving in the Territorial Army and eventually retired in 2013 with the rank of lieutenant colonel.
Patekar went on to play several characters connected with patriotism, conflict and the armed forces, but his own experience during Kargil was separate from those screen portrayals.
From commercial art to one of cinema’s most recognized actors
Long before becoming a leading name in Hindi cinema, Patekar studied commercial art and worked as a commercial artist before moving towards theatre. During his Kaun Banega Crorepati appearance, he told Amitabh Bachchan that he once painted zebra crossings to earn money before finding his way into acting. He made his Hindi film debut with Gaman in 1978 and went on to build a career spanning more than four decades.
Over the following decades, he became known for performances in films including Parinda, Krantiveer, Agni Sakshi, Tirangaa, Ab Tak Chhappan and Welcome. He received three National Film Awards and the Padma Shri Award in 2013 for his contributions to the film industry and arts. Patekar’s last appearance was in the movie Subedaar that came out in March 2026.