Indian Army provides a sense of ease and protection ensuring the safety of the countrys people from enemies. Over the decades India has witnessed several wars and among them the Kargil War holds the utmost significance. While some might wonder about the connection between the Kargil War and Bollywood it’s worth mentioning that apart from numerous hit films inspired by the war there was a man who not only convinced the Defence Minister to allow him to join the Army but also served on the frontlines. Moreover this man was no ordinary individual—he was a three-time National Award winner. If youre curious about who this man is let us tell you it’s Nana Patekar. Remarkably Nana Patekar is the one actor who set aside his career to serve the nation by joining the Indian Army during the Kargil War. The actor recently appeared on Kaun Banega Crorepati 16 where he shared his inspiring story of serving the nation during the war. In the early 1990s Nana trained and lived with the Maratha Light Infantry of the Army for three years while working on his film Prahaar. When the Kargil War broke out he approached senior officers from the division expressing his desire to join the soldiers on the frontlines. However his request was initially denied as such approval required the Defence Ministers consent. On the KBC hot seat Nana shared “I knew our Defence Minister George Fernandes ji so I called him.” He further elaborated “Even he said it was impossible. I told him that although the training for a commission is six months I trained for three years. He was surprised and asked me about it. After learning about my experience with the Maratha Light Infantry he asked ‘When do you want to go?’” In August 1999 Nana spent over a fortnight on the frontlines near the Line of Control (LOC). During his time there he assisted soldiers and worked in the hospital at the base for several days. Speaking about the harsh conditions Nana revealed that he lost 20 kilograms during his time there. “I was 76 kg when I reached Srinagar. By the time I came back I was 56 kg” he said. Nana Patekar resumed his film career after serving in Kargil and went on to star in some of the most successful and critically acclaimed Indian films of all time. Most recently the actor appeared in Anil Sharmas Vanvaas which was released in theaters in December 2024.