Salman Khan to Portray National Hero Colonel Bikumalla Santosh Babu

Ziya Khan May 20, 2025Last Updated: May 20, 2025

Bollywood superstar Salman Khan is set to take on the role of a national hero in his upcoming film, portraying Colonel Bikumalla Santosh Babu, who sacrificed his life during the 2020 Galwan Valley clash between Indian and Chinese troops. The film will be directed by Apoorva Lakhia, known for his work on Shootout at Lokhandwala and Mission Istaanbul, and is scheduled to begin filming in July 2025.The project is based on the true story of Colonel Bikumalla Santosh Babu MVC, who served as the commanding officer of the 16 Bihar Regiment. He was killed in action during the skirmishes in Galwan Valley, becoming the first Indian Army officer to be killed in action against the PLA since 1967. His heroic actions, performed despite being outnumbered, are detailed in the acclaimed book ‘India’s Most Fearless 3’ by Shiv Aroor and Rahul Singh.

A source revealed to Mid-Day, “Colonel Babu’s character is nothing short of heroic. He demonstrated exceptional bravery in various counterinsurgency and infiltration operations. The director has secured the rights to the first chapter, titled I Had Never Seen Such Fierce Fighting — The Galwan Clash of June 2020, which provides a first-hand account of the events.” The screenplay has been adapted by Suresh Nair, along with Chintan Gandhi and Chintan Shah, who is also writing the dialogues. The source added, “Salman loved the story and will start his preparation at the end of May. He has already begun physical training for his role at his farmhouse in Panvel.”This collaboration marks Salman Khan’s first project with Apoorva Lakhia. A production insider confirmed, “Salman Khan has officially chosen Apoorva Lakhia for his next film, which is set to commence in July 2025.”

According to an earlier report by Bollywood Hungama, Salman Khan will be filming in the high-altitude region of Ladakh for this project. He has initiated his training process and aims to achieve a lean physique for the role. The shooting schedule includes 20 days in Ladakh, followed by 50 days in Mumbai, with plans to wrap up the film by early 2026.With a compact 70-day shooting schedule spanning the rugged landscapes of Ladakh and urban settings in Mumbai, the film promises to deliver a gripping and respectful portrayal of bravery, sacrifice, and national pride.