Political analyst and former Bigg Boss contestant Tehseen Poonawalla has come out in defence of actor Salman Khan following online criticism over a brief smile seen in the teaser of the upcoming film Battle of Galwan. A section of social media users questioned whether the expression was appropriate for a war drama inspired by real-life events.
Responding to the trolling, Tehseen took to X to argue that Salman Khan’s expression has been misunderstood. According to him, the smile does not reflect casualness but instead conveys inner strength, psychological control, and composure expected of a trained soldier.
“Those trolling Salman for that slight smile in the Battle Of Galwan teaser are missing the point. That isn’t casual, it’s composure. It’s calm aggression. It’s the look of a soldier who understands what he’s walking into and refuses to panic when the enemy is right in front of him,” Tehseen wrote.
He further explained that the scene represents a soldier who has mentally prepared for the realities of combat, adding that fear has no place on the battlefield. Referring to the film’s dialogue, Tehseen highlighted the philosophy behind the moment, stating that for a soldier, both survival and sacrifice in service of the nation are forms of victory.
Directed by Apoorva Lakhia, Battle of Galwan is based on the 2020 clash between Indian and Chinese troops in the Galwan Valley. The film stars Salman Khan in the lead role alongside Chitrangada Singh, with supporting performances by Zeyn Shaw, Ankur Bhatia, Abhilash Chaudhary, Vipin Bhardwaj, and Heera Sohal.
Originally expected to release around Eid 2026, the film is now scheduled to hit theatres on April 17, 2026.