Archive · 8 Oct 2026
Nana Patekar’s Support Helped Indian Shooting Grow
Nana Patekar was a famous actor who also loved shooting sports.
In the 1990s, he met shooter Anjali Bhagwat at a competition.
He learned that she and other shooters had to share their equipment.
Patekar helped by giving Bhagwat her own rifle and imported shooting clothes and gear.
She said this made it easier for her to practice and improve.
Patekar also competed in shooting and won two national medals.
He sometimes lent his equipment and ammunition to other shooters.
Bhagwat also remembered him performing a long movie speech at the shooting range.
Former India shooter Anjali Bhagwat recalled that Nana Patekar first met her at a National Games event in the 1990s.
After learning that Bhagwat, Suma Shirur and Deepali Deshpande shared equipment, Patekar sponsored Bhagwat with a personal rifle and an imported kit.
Bhagwat said the new equipment helped her improve her shooting scores and practice conditions.
Patekar later competed in Big Bore shooting and won a silver and a bronze national medal in the 2000s.
Bhagwat remembered Patekar as generous with other shooters and recalled him delivering a long film dialogue at the range.
- Who
- Actor and shooting enthusiast Nana Patekar, and former India shooter Anjali Bhagwat.
- What
- Bhagwat recalled Patekar's sponsorship of shooting equipment and his involvement in the sport.
- When
- Their first described meeting was in the 1990s; Patekar won national medals in the 2000s.
- Where
- At a National Games event and shooting ranges in India.
- Why
- Patekar learned that Indian shooters lacked adequate equipment and helped Bhagwat with a personal rifle and imported kit.
- Shooter recalling events
- Anjali Bhagwat, a former India shooter
- Initial meeting
- At a National Games event in the 1990s
- Equipment support
- A personal weapon and an imported kit from Korea
- Other shooters mentioned
- Suma Shirur and Deepali Deshpande
- Patekar's shooting discipline
- Big Bore
- National medals
- A silver and a bronze in the 2000s
- Film mentioned
- Attack of 26/11