Bollywood superstar Salman Khan’s upcoming film Battle of Galwan has sparked widespread curiosity ever since its teaser was unveiled on his 60th birthday. While many viewers speculated that the actor would be portraying Colonel Santosh Babu, sources have now clarified that the film is not a biopic of the late Army officer.
According to a source close to the project, Battle of Galwan draws inspiration from the real-life events of the 2020 Galwan Valley clash but does not focus on the life of any one individual. “Salman Khan’s Galwan is not a biopic on Colonel Santosh Babu. The film is based on the true events of the Galwan Valley clash and is expected to highlight a strong human and emotional angle, especially in its climax,” the source said.
The teaser shows Salman Khan leading his soldiers through the harsh, high-altitude terrain, armed with a stick, hinting at the brutal hand-to-hand combat that marked the real incident. The visuals underline the physical and emotional challenges faced by soldiers in extreme conditions.
Earlier, Salman described the film as one of the most physically demanding projects of his career. He said the preparation now requires far more time and effort than before, with intense training to meet the film’s action-heavy requirements.
Directed by Apoorva Lakhia, Battle of Galwan is based on the 2020 India–China military confrontation, during which Indian Army personnel engaged in fierce close-combat fighting with soldiers of the People’s Liberation Army. The film also stars Chitrangada Singh in a key role, alongside Zeyn Shaw, Ankur Bhatia and Vipin Bhardwaj in supporting parts. It is scheduled for a theatrical release on April 17, 2026.