Galwan Valley war film: Salman Khan to start shooting for action movie within 5 months

After Sikandar's failure, Salman Khan is shifting focus to a war drama based on the 2020 Galwan Valley clash, aiming for a patriotic film set for a Republic Day 2026 release

Following the underwhelming box office performance of Sikandar, Salman Khan appears to be swiftly realigning his cinematic trajectory. Reports suggest the actor is now leaning toward a high-stakes war drama inspired by the 2020 Galwan Valley clash — one of the most sensitive military confrontations in recent Indian history. The film is expected to be helmed by Shootout at Lokhandwala director Apoorva Lakhia and is being positioned as a patriotic project rooted in real events.

Although Salman has yet to officially sign the film, he has given his verbal approval to the concept and is already involved in the initial stages of development. Backed by his home banner, Salman Khan Films, the movie is reportedly scheduled to go on floors within the next five months. Insiders indicate that large portions of the film will be shot in Ladakh, aiming to lend authenticity to its portrayal of the intense hand-to-hand combat that took place between Indian and Chinese troops along the Line of Actual Control in June 2020.

Interestingly, this war drama seems to have taken precedence over the much-talked-about sequel to Bajrangi Bhaijaan. The sequel was once considered a priority for Khan and was supposed to reunite him with director Kabir Khan, with a script by noted writer V. Vijayendra Prasad. However, despite initial brainstorming sessions earlier this year, there has been little progress on that front. This stagnation is believed to have influenced Khan’s decision to devote his focus to the Galwan project instead.

A source close to the development shared with The Hollywood Reporter that although multiple filmmakers pitched projects to Khan after Sikandar, he was particularly drawn to the Galwan Valley story. The actor reportedly saw it as a powerful vehicle to convey a message of national pride. If all goes as planned and he officially signs the dotted line, director Lakhia is expected to begin location scouting and lock in the shooting schedule soon after.

The project, which is yet to be titled, is envisioned as a large-scale production underscored by emotion and patriotism. With Salman Khan at the helm and the subject matter’s significance in the national discourse, the film is likely to generate considerable attention leading up to its proposed Republic Day 2026 release.

Meanwhile, Sikandar, directed by AR Murugadoss and featuring a star-studded cast including Rashmika Mandanna, Sharman Joshi, Kajal Aggarwal, and Anjini Dhawan, did not perform as expected despite releasing during the lucrative Eid window. The film’s lukewarm reception appears to have pushed Khan toward exploring more grounded and emotionally resonant narratives with stronger national relevance.