Bollywood actor Nana Patekar may be conferred with the honorary rank of Lieutenant Colonel by the territorial army (TA) some time in the next couple of weeks.
He will be the first celebrity from the state to receive this honour. Four others, actors Mohanlal and Mamootty, and cricketers Kapil Dev and MS Dhoni, have earlier been awarded with this rank.
The actor was awarded the honorary rank of Captain in the early ‘90s when he underwent training for his role as an army officer in the movie Prahaar. Even after canning the last shot for that movie, Patekar lent his services to the army, including a stint during the Kargil war.
Additional chief secretary UC Sarangi said the state home department had given the nod for it 15 days ago.
A Pune-based officer from the TA refused to comment, saying it was too premature at the time.
The TA is a voluntary part-time civilian force, which serves as a reserve force and provides opportunities to civilians to receive military training. The honorary ranks are conferred upon celebrities to attract more youth to the army.
