Actor Mohan Lal is now Lt Colonel Mohan Lal
Padmashree Bharat Lt Colonel Mohanlal.
New Delhi, 10 July (Asiantribune. com): Versatile actor Mohan Lal who strides the silver screen from Malayam to Hindi and Telugu to Tamil as a colossus, has now a new role to play- as Lieutenant Colonel.
It was a celebrity push for the Indian Army when it got itself a brand ambassador by enlisting southern superstar Mohanlal as an honorary Lt Colonel in the Territorial Army. And for once, it was the celebrated film actor who had stars in his eyes.
Mohanlal is the first actor in the country to get such a prestigious title from the army. The only other celebrity to get this title is former cricket captain Kapil Dev
Army Chief General Deepak Kapoor has formally 'pipped' the actor who has been granted the Honorary rank in the Territorial Army. Vice Chief of the army, , Additional Directorate General Territorial Army, Col Commandant of The Madras Regiment, and senior officers were present besides Mohan Lal's family at the impressive 'investiture' ceremony at the Army Headquarters.
Lt Col Mohan Lal will be working with the Kerala based 122 Infantry Battalion of the Territorial Army (TA).
For him it was a 'truly proud moment' and a 'dream come true'. The honour came his way during the Diamond Jubilee year of the Territorial Army.
'I will try to serve the Territorial Army to the best of my ability in my newly assigned role. Like others in our country, I pride the Indian Armed Forces and it is dream come true that I can now serve shoulder to shoulder with our forces', Mohan Lal said, who had essayed the role of an army officer on the silver screen in films like Kirti Chaktra and Kurukshetra.
For these roles and for that Mohan Lal stamp of realistic touch , he went to Tiger Hill and Dras in Kargil to experience firsthand the conflict conditions and the reflex actions of army officers when faced with an adversary.
'A visit to my battalion at Kannur will be important agenda for me', Mohan Lal said about his plans.
He looks forward to 'witness the Prime Minister's Territorial Army Day Parade to be held at Delhi in October 2009 along with other functions like Band Display and Blood Donation Camp planned as part of the Diamond Jubilee Celebrations of the Territorial Army.