Overview

• Patekar’s request to join troops at the Line of Control was initially denied by army officers and only approved after he reminded Defence Minister George Fernandes of his prior training
• He spent over two weeks in August 1999 with the Indian Army’s Quick Response Team during the later phase of the Kargil conflict
• Beyond frontline duties, the actor volunteered at a base hospital in Kargil, assisting medical teams in treating wounded soldiers
• Harsh mountain conditions took a heavy toll on him as he dropped nearly 20 kilograms in under a month
• Annual Vijay Diwas commemorations have reignited public interest in his unique journey from silver screen patriot to real‐world volunteer