April 17 release date confirmed as the war drama faces heat from Chinese state media; fans divided over “GoT-inspired” teaser visuals.
January 2, 2026: Following the high-octane teaser release of Salman Khan’s much-anticipated war drama, Battle of Galwan, a new “leaked” action sequence has taken social media by storm.
The video, which depicts Salman Khan as Colonel B. Santosh Babu single-handedly taking on Chinese troops with a baseball bat, has been debunked as a highly sophisticated AI-generated deepfake.
Despite its realistic appearance, eagle-eyed netizens were quick to point out inaccuracies, such as the presence of heavy snow which did not reflect the actual weather conditions during the June 2020 clash. One X user remarked, “Please fool people with this AI generated shite on Instagram. Yahan par padhe likhe log hain.”
Teaser Receives Polarized Feedback
The official teaser, launched on December 27, 2025, to mark Salman Khan’s 60th birthday, has crossed 60 million views but remains a subject of intense debate:
- The “GoT” Comparison: Many fans compared the battlefield cinematography to the iconic Battle of the Bastards from Game of Thrones, calling it a “desi remake” with high production value.
- Criticism: Some viewers criticized the “perfect hair and crisp uniforms” in the middle of a brutal war zone, questioning the film’s authenticity compared to gritty hits like Dhurandhar.
Diplomatic Tensions and Release Info
The film has already triggered a diplomatic firestorm. China’s state-run Global Times recently slammed the project, accusing director Apoorva Lakhia of “distorting facts” and pushing an “over-the-top” nationalist narrative. In response, filmmaker Ashoke Pandit stated, “We are not surprised. China would react because it is a film that is exposing them.”
Key Film Details:
- Release Date: April 17, 2026.
- Director: Apoorva Lakhia.
- Star Cast: Salman Khan, Chitrangada Singh, Zeyn Shaw, Ankur Bhatia, and Abhilash Chaudhary.
- Music: Himesh Reshammiya.
