The teaser for Salman Khan’s war drama, Battle of Galwan, was released on December 27, 2025, coinciding with the actor’s 60th birthday. While it was met with excitement in India, it quickly drew the ire of Chinese state-backed media.
The Global Times published reports claiming the film misrepresents the 2020 border clash between Indian and Chinese troops. According to their “experts,” Bollywood films are merely “entertainment-driven” and cannot “rewrite history” or affect China’s territorial claims. Chinese netizens also reportedly voiced their disappointment, calling the teaser an “over-the-top” exaggeration of the events in the Galwan Valley.
Ashoke Pandit, a prominent voice in the Indian film industry, was quick to dismiss these criticisms. He stated that the reaction from China was entirely expected because the film aims to “expose” the reality of their aggression.
Pandit mentioned that he is neither shocked nor surprised by the backlash. He believes that when a filmmaker decides to depict a sensitive confrontation, those being criticized will naturally react defensively. He emphasized that Indian filmmakers have every right to document and share their nation’s history and the sacrifices of its soldiers.
Pandit argued that Chinese criticism would have no negative impact on the film’s domestic release or box office collections. In fact, he suggested that such controversy might even pique the interest of the global audience. He reiterated that the film is a tribute to the 20 Indian soldiers who lost their lives and serves as a medium to tell the world “what China has done to our country.”
Directed by Apoorva Lakhia, Battle of Galwan is based on the book India’s Most Fearless 3. It features Salman Khan in a restrained, intense role as an Indian Army officer. The film is set against the backdrop of the high-altitude, freezing terrain where the 2020 hand-to-hand combat occurred.
By standing behind the film, Ashoke Pandit and other industry leaders are sending a clear message: Indian cinema will not be deterred by international pressure when it comes to portraying national history and military valor. To know such latest updates, stay tuned to tellyboosters.com Thank you!
