Iran’s ‘Sholay’ Twist Goes Viral: Thakur Meme Takes a Dig at UN’s Power (WATCH)

The Iranian Embassy in India criticized the United Nations by sharing a Bollywood meme on social media. The post contrasted Marvel superhero Doctor Strange, representing an idealized UN, with the armless character Thakur from the movie Sholay, symbolizing an organization lacking real power to act during global crises.

Iran’s Embassy in India used a viral ‘Sholay’ Thakur meme to mock the UN

Image Credit: X

Iran has found an unmistakably Bollywood way to take a swipe at the United Nations, using one of Sholay’s most iconic characters to question the world body’s ability to act during major global crises.

The Iranian Embassy in India shared a meme on X featuring a side-by-side comparison of Marvel superhero Doctor Strange and Thakur Baldev Singh, the character played by Sanjeev Kumar in the 1975 Bollywood classic Sholay.

The first image shows Doctor Strange with multiple arms and carries the caption “UN according to school books”. The second features Thakur, whose arms are cut off in the film after an attack by Gabbar Singh, with the words “UN in reality.”

The embassy's post was: “UN according to school books UN in reality”

Check the viral post here: 

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The meme appears to contrast the UN’s idealised image as an organisation capable of responding to international crises with what Iran portrays as its limited ability to take decisive action. The embassy did not identify a particular UN resolution or crisis in the post. However, the meme appeared amid continuing debate over the organisation’s role in major international conflicts.

The timing is notable as the 81st UN General Assembly brought world leaders and diplomats together in New York for discussions on global issues, including peace and security. The post also came amid tensions involving Iran, the United States and Israel, with the UN calling for de-escalation and negotiations.

The choice of Thakur gives the message a distinctly Indian pop-culture flavour. For audiences familiar with Sholay, the character’s missing arms instantly convey the idea of being unable to act despite having once possessed authority and power.

The meme also fits into a broader pattern of Iranian digital diplomacy, with Iranian diplomatic accounts increasingly using memes, sarcasm, pop-culture references and AI-generated videos to communicate political messages online. A study cited by India Today found that monitored Iranian official and diplomatic accounts recorded a major increase in views and engagement after the war began.

By replacing a conventional diplomatic statement with a familiar Bollywood reference, Iran has turned its criticism of the UN into a social-media-friendly message—one that has quickly attracted attention in India and beyond.