Salman Khan’s upcoming film Battle of Galwan has attracted considerable attention, but it is crucial to recognize that it is not the first cinematic portrayal of the 2020 Galwan Valley clash.
Director Nitin Kumar Gupta’s LAC: Battle of Galwan, starring Rahul Roy, was completed in November 2020 and intended for theatrical release on the conflict’s anniversary in June 2023.
However, Nitin Kumar Gupta’s film faced a protracted and arduous battle with the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC).
CBFC demanded extensive cuts—including removing references to the actual location, toning down violence by 33%, and controversially, deleting photos of the 20 real-life martyrs from the end credits.
Due to these hurdles and a lack of CBFC clearance even after three years, Nitin Kumar Gupta was compelled to release his film quietly on YouTube in early July 2025.
This independent film’s early release and the struggle behind it highlight a significant issue: Salman Khan’s Battle of Galwan is not an original project but follows an already made and publicly available film on the same subject.
While it is not confirmed that Salman Khan’s team copied or stole the idea, the timing and thematic overlap raise questions about originality and creative ethics in Bollywood’s handling of recent patriotic narratives.
Nitin Kumar Gupta’s experience underscores the challenges faced by smaller filmmakers in bringing sensitive national stories to the big screen, especially when dealing with censorship and bureaucratic delays.
Meanwhile, Salman Khan’s film, touted as his big comeback, risks being perceived as derivative rather than groundbreaking.
The industry and audiences deserve transparency about the origins and inspirations behind such high-profile projects, ensuring respect for pioneering efforts like LAC: Battle of Galwan that came first but were sidelined.
