‘Battle of Galwan’ teaser rattles Beijing: Why Salman Khan’s film on 2020 border clash has China on edge

A new film starring Salman Khan about the 2020 Galwan Valley clash has angered China, which accuses it of distorting history and promoting an Indian narrative. India says the government has no role in the film, citing freedom of expression.

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A new film starring Salman Khan has reopened old wounds between India and China, with Beijing taking offense at a teaser that revisits the 2020 Galwan Valley clash. China’s state-run media has accused the upcoming movie Battle of Galwan of misrepresenting history and pushing what it calls a one-sided Indian narrative.

The teaser, released recently, triggered a sharp response from China, which claims the film “does not align with the facts.” The criticism comes despite the clash being one of the most documented and consequential military confrontations between the two countries in decades.

What happened at Galwan

On June 15, 2020, Indian and Chinese soldiers engaged in a violent face-to-face confrontation in the Galwan Valley, marking the deadliest clash along the India China border in more than 40 years.

Tensions had been building since early May, when both armies moved additional troops to multiple friction points along the Line of Actual Control. These areas are governed by differing patrol perceptions rather than a clearly demarcated border.

By early June, Indian forces objected to Chinese troops setting up temporary structures near Patrol Point 14, a zone traditionally used by both sides for patrols and meetings. On June 6, local commanders agreed to disengage, with China dismantling one tent and both sides committing to pull back troops by about two kilometres.

However, days later, Indian troops found that Chinese soldiers had returned and erected fresh structures, including one on higher ground overlooking the valley. On the evening of June 15, a patrol led by Bikkumalla Santosh Babu went to verify whether the disengagement had actually taken place.

According to Indian accounts, Chinese troops confronted the patrol when they attempted to remove the new structure. What followed was a prolonged and brutal hand-to-hand fight involving stones, iron rods and improvised weapons wrapped with barbed wire.

“This was treachery by the Chinese. The attack on the Indian team was planned. The CO had gone there with his men in good faith because talks were held in a positive atmosphere during the day,” a source said at the time.

The fighting lasted several hours in near-freezing conditions along steep terrain. India later confirmed that 20 of its soldiers were killed in action. China initially denied any losses before later acknowledging that four of its troops had died. Indian assessments indicated that around 40 Chinese soldiers were killed or injured.

Colonel Santosh Babu was among those fatally injured in the clash. Talks between senior commanders followed, and ten Indian Army personnel who had been detained by the Chinese were returned on June 17. The incident triggered a prolonged military standoff across eastern Ladakh and marked the first combat deaths along the border since 1975.

China's response and India's stand

China’s criticism has been led by its state-run tabloid Global Times, which accused the film of distorting history and stoking hostility.

“The Bollywood films at most provide an entertainment-driven, emotionally charged portrayal, but no amount of cinematic exaggeration can rewrite the history or shake the PLA’s determination to defend China’s sovereign territory,” the paper said.

The article also falsely claimed that the Galwan Valley lies on the Chinese side of the LAC and accused Indian troops of trespassing into Chinese territory and deliberately provoking the clash. It dismissed Colonel Santosh Babu’s role in the confrontation as a “so-called pivotal role” and alleged that the teaser borrows imagery from popular Western shows.

The piece further accused India of exaggerating casualty figures and misleading the international community.

“No matter how ‘over-the-top’ a drama may be, a nation’s sacred territory will never be affected by a film,” it quoted Chinese military analyst Song Zhongping as saying.

Indian government sources told NDTV that New Delhi has no role in the making of the film.

“India is a country with freedom of expression, and cinematic expression is an integral part of it. Indian filmmakers are free to make films as per this artistic freedom. Those who may have concerns on this particular film are free to approach India’s Ministry of Defence for any clarifications. Government has no role to play in this film,” the sources said.

What the film is about

The Battle of Galwan focuses on the events surrounding the 2020 clash in eastern Ladakh. Salman Khan portrays Colonel Santosh Babu, who commanded the 16 Bihar Regiment during the confrontation with troops from the People’s Liberation Army.

The film also stars Chitrangada Singh, Zeyn Shaw, Ankur Bhatia and Vipin Bhardwaj. It is directed by Apoorva Lakhia, known for films such as Shootout at Lokhandwala and Ek Ajnabee.

The teaser shows Salman addressing his soldiers before heading toward the confrontation zone. It cuts away before any strike is shown. The film is scheduled for release in April 2026.

While China insists that cinema cannot change facts, its sharp reaction suggests lingering discomfort over a clash that continues to shape India-China relations and global perceptions of Beijing’s conduct along the LAC.