# Salman Khan's *Battle of Galwan*

# Salman Khan's *Battle of Galwan* Ignites Firestorm: China's Fury Over Bollywood's Take on 2020 Clash **Imagine a movie teaser dropping like a bombshell, starring Bollywood's biggest icon as a heroic Indian colonel—and suddenly, China's state media erupts in outrage.** That's exactly what's happening with Salman Khan's upcoming war drama *Battle of Galwan*, which dramatizes the deadly June 2020 clash in eastern Ladakh's Galwan Valley between Indian and Chinese troops.[1][2] The film's teaser, released over the weekend, portrays Salman Khan as Colonel Bikkumalla Santosh Babu, the Indian Army officer killed while defending his post—a real-life hero posthumously awarded the Mahavir Chakra.[2] But China's *Global Times* isn't having it. In a scathing article, the state-run outlet accuses the film of "distorting facts," claiming the events "do not align with facts" and dismissing Colonel Babu's role as a "so-called pivotal role."[1][4] They insist Galwan Valley lies on the **Chinese side** of the Line of Actual Control (LAC), blame Indian troops for crossing the border and provoking the fight, and label the movie as Bollywood's tool to "stir nationalistic sentiment."[2][4] This isn't just critique—it's a full-throated defense of Beijing's narrative. *Global Times* quotes a Chinese military expert saying, "No matter how 'over-the-top' a drama may be, a nation's sacred territory will never be affected by a film."[4] Chinese social media has piled on, calling the teaser exaggerated and sensationalized.[1] The clash itself was brutal: India lost 20 soldiers, including Colonel Babu, while China admitted to four deaths only after weeks of denial.[1][2] India's response? Government sources fired back, emphasizing **creative freedom** for filmmakers. "Storytellers are free to choose narratives they believe are important, and cinematic expression should not be politicised," they stated, hours after the *Global Times* piece.[1] Experts in India see this as China trying to rewrite history, reigniting debates over the LAC and national pride.[2][3]

Dramatic mountain valley landscape evoking the tense Galwan region, with rugged peaks under a stormy sky

*Rugged Himalayan terrain symbolizing the Galwan Valley standoff (Unsplash free stock image).*

As *Battle of Galwan* gears up for release, this clash of narratives pits Bollywood bravado against state media spin. Will the film rally Indian audiences or escalate tensions further? It's a reminder that movies can be more than entertainment—they're battlegrounds for truth and memory.[3][5] **What do you think—artistic liberty or historical distortion? Drop your thoughts in the comments below, share this post if it got you fired up, and let's keep the conversation going!**
Citations
1.https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/filmmakers-have-creative-freedom-government-sources-on-china-criticising-salmans-battle-of-galwan-2844050-2025-12-30
2.https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/china-targets-salman-khans-battle-of-galwan-india-experts-react-10091227
3.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xufOs2ZUUuU
4.https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202512/1351857.shtml
5.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_WMh72tTBOQ
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