India has pushed back strongly against China’s criticism of the upcoming Bollywood film Battle of Galwan, starring Salman Khan, asserting that artistic freedom is a fundamental right in the country and filmmakers are free to tell their stories without government interference.
The response came after Chinese state-run media outlet Global Times alleged that the film “distorts facts” related to the violent June 2020 clash between Indian and Chinese troops in eastern Ladakh’s Galwan Valley. Government sources told that India upholds freedom of expression and cinematic creativity, and the Centre has no role in the making or content of the film.
Battle of Galwan is based on a chapter from India’s Most Fearless 3 by journalists Shiv Aroor and Rahul Singh. The film focuses on the hand-to-hand combat between soldiers of the Indian Army’s 16 Bihar Regiment and China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA). Salman Khan portrays Colonel Bikkumalla Santosh Babu, the commanding officer of the 16 Bihar Regiment, who was killed in action during the clash.
India has officially acknowledged the loss of 20 soldiers in the confrontation, which involved brutal fighting without firearms. China, after initially denying casualties, later claimed that four of its soldiers died, a figure widely seen as an underestimation.
According to government sources, those with concerns about the film’s portrayal are free to seek clarifications from the Ministry of Defence, but the government itself has no involvement in the project. “India is a country with freedom of expression, and cinematic expression is an integral part of it,” a source said.
The Global Times article also reiterated China’s long-standing claim that the Galwan Valley lies on its side of the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and accused Indian troops of crossing the boundary and provoking the clash claims India has consistently rejected.
The 2020 Galwan incident marked a sharp deterioration in India-China relations, leading to heightened military deployments and prolonged disengagement talks along the LAC. Against this backdrop, India’s response underscores its position that creative works cannot be dictated by external pressure, even amid sensitive geopolitical disputes.
