As the upcoming war drama Battle of Galwan, starring Salman Khan, continues to dominate headlines, it has also sparked controversy overseas. Chinese state-run media, including the Global Times, have criticized the film’s teaser and narrative, accusing it of distorting facts about the 2020 Galwan Valley clash. Veteran filmmaker and FWICE Chief Advisor Ashoke Pandit has strongly rebutted these claims, describing the backlash as predictable and rooted in insecurity rather than artistic truth.
The controversy erupted shortly after the Battle of Galwan teaser dropped on Salman Khan’s 60th birthday, December 27, 2025. Directed by Apoorva Lakhia, the film dramatizes the intense hand-to-hand combat between Indian and Chinese troops along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in June 2020—one of the most significant clashes in recent India-China relations.
The Global Times, a Chinese government-linked publication, argued that the film cannot “rewrite history” and accused it of presenting a one-sided narrative, alleging factual inaccuracies in the teaser and dismissing the depiction of Indian Army sacrifices as exaggerated. Responding to the criticism, Ashoke Pandit told NDTV, “When an Indian filmmaker makes a film, he definitely ensures that the activities of our adversary country are exposed.
We, as a nation, are strong, and our security forces are brave in fighting battles for the country. So, this reaction from Global Times is basically a kind of insecurity.” Producer Rahul Mitra echoed Pandit’s views, stressing that the filmmakers conducted thorough research and that established names like Lakhia and Salman Khan would not create a film that “distorts facts just to make a film.
China has supported Pakistan and caused many problems for us. It’s a great thing that this film has been made. If the film is good, it will succeed.”Battle of Galwan is inspired by the June 2020 Galwan Valley clash, where Indian troops engaged in brutal hand-to-hand combat with Chinese forces in a rare high-altitude confrontation, resulting in casualties on both sides, including 20 Indian soldiers. Salman Khan stars as Colonel Bikkumalla Santosh Babu, the commanding officer of the 16 Bihar Regiment in the real-life battle. The film also features Chitrangda Singh, Zeyn Shaw, Ankur Bhatia, and Vipin Bhardwaj in supporting roles. It is slated for theatrical release on April 17, 2026.
