The teaser of Salman Khan’s upcoming film Battle of Galwan may have just dropped on December 27, but it has already stirred controversy beyond Indian borders. Sections of Chinese media and commentators have criticised the film, accusing it of distorting facts related to the 2020 Galwan Valley clash. However, according to FWICE Chief Advisor Ashoke Pandit, the backlash is unlikely to have any real impact on the film’s release or box office prospects.
China Reacts, But India Isn’t Surprised
A report published by Chinese tabloid Global Times quoted an expert claiming that Bollywood films offer an “entertainment-driven perspective” and cannot rewrite history. The report also noted that Chinese netizens have been vocal in criticising the teaser online.
This reaction, Pandit says, was expected.
“We are not surprised or shocked that the media in China has responded this way,” he said, adding that filmmakers have every right to depict events involving India’s national interest.
“This Won’t Affect Release or Collections”
Ashoke Pandit was clear in his assessment: the noise from across the border won’t derail the film.
“If a filmmaker or production house decides to depict a confrontation between India and China, there is nothing wrong with it. I don’t think this will have any effect on the film’s release or its collections,” he stated.
According to him, the makers would have anticipated China’s response the moment they chose the subject of Galwan — a flashpoint that remains sensitive even years later.
“We Have the Right to Tell Our Story”
Pandit also underlined the larger point behind Battle of Galwan. In his view, the film is about asserting India’s narrative.
“This is a film that exposes what China has done to our country. We have the right to make a film on this subject and tell the world our side of the story,” he said.
He further pointed out China’s long-standing geopolitical stance toward India, including its support for Pakistan, adding that films like Battle of Galwan are important cultural statements.
“If the film is good, it will do well,” Pandit concluded.
About Battle of Galwan
Directed by Apoorva Lakhia, the film reportedly features Salman Khan in the role of Colonel Bikkumalla Santosh Babu, the Indian Army officer who lost his life during the Galwan Valley clash. Chitrangada Singh also plays a key role.
The film is based on the book India’s Most Fearless 3 and revisits the brutal 2020 Galwan Valley confrontation, where Indian and Chinese troops engaged in hand-to-hand combat using sticks and stones due to firearms restrictions along the Line of Actual Control.
Final Words
International criticism may be loud, but within India, Battle of Galwan is being seen as a film rooted in national memory rather than provocation. If Ashoke Pandit’s confidence holds true, the controversy could end up adding to the film’s visibility — not hurting it.
For now, the teaser has done what it was meant to do: get people talking.
