China Slams Bollywood’s ‘Battle of Galwan’ for ‘Distorting Facts’ and Fueling Nationalism

China’s state-run Global Times has sharply criticized the upcoming Bollywood film “Battle of Galwan”, starring superstar Salman Khan, accusing it of fabricating history and stirring anti-China sentiment amid improving bilateral ties.

The scathing article, published Monday, came just days after the film’s teaser was released on Khan’s 60th birthday (December 27). Directed by Apoorva Lakhia and scheduled for theatrical release on April 17, 2026, the war drama portrays the 2020 Galwan Valley clash, with Khan playing Colonel Bikkumalla Santosh Babu, the Indian officer killed in the confrontation.

The Global Times described the teaser – depicting Khan rallying troops and engaging in intense hand-to-hand combat – as “over-the-top” and exaggerated, mocking the actor’s longstanding reputation for portraying “invincible” heroes in simplistic, high-action plots.

Chinese military expert Song Zhongping told the outlet that no amount of Bollywood dramatization can change the “core facts”: that Indian forces initiated the border violation, prompting a lawful defensive response from the People’s Liberation Army (PLA).

Another commentator, Lan Jianxue from the China Institute of International Studies, called the film’s one-sided narrative “inappropriate,” particularly as India-China relations have shown signs of easing following recent diplomatic progress.

The 2020 Galwan clash, the deadliest border incident in decades along the Line of Actual Control, resulted in the deaths of 20 Indian soldiers (including Colonel Babu). Both sides have since completed disengagement from several key friction points.

Produced under Salman Khan Films and co-starring Chitrangada Singh, Battle of Galwan has generated significant excitement in India, with fans praising it as a patriotic tribute to the armed forces.