Ladakh Shoot: Battling the Elements
When Salman Khan signed on for Salman Khan’s latest project, he knew the script would demand more than just punch‑lines. Director Apoorva Lakhia wanted the 2020 Galwan clash captured against the actual landscape, so the crew set up camp in Ladakh’s snow‑kissed valleys. Temperatures hovered under 10 °C, the air was thin, and the terrain was anything but forgiving.
For 15 straight days, the superstar and his team huddled in wind‑blown tents, rehearsing gun‑fire sequences and sprinting across rocky ridges. The low‑oxygen environment made even simple breaths feel heavy, yet the actors kept moving. According to a production insider, “Salman powered through the cold, the altitude, and a minor slip that left him with a bruise on his right elbow.” The injury was minor, but it reminded everyone that real‑world locations come with real risks.
The Ladakh schedule covered roughly a third of the movie’s 45‑day plan. Action scenes—hand‑to‑hand combat, vehicle chases on narrow mountain passes, and large‑scale troop movements—were shot with genuine snow and jagged cliffs as backdrops. Crew members said the authenticity added a grit that no green‑screen could fake. Even the extras, many of them local residents, were briefed on safety protocols, but the unpredictable weather still kept everyone on edge.
Beyond the physical challenges, the crew faced logistical headaches: transporting cameras up steep tracks, keeping batteries warm, and ensuring food supplies didn’t freeze. Despite these hurdles, morale stayed high because the team felt they were documenting a piece of recent history. The camaraderie forged during those cold mornings turned into a shared sense of purpose, with Khan often leading warm‑up drills and encouraging the crew to stay focused.
Mumbai Schedule: Shifting to Emotion
After the Ladakh leg wrapped, the production team packed up and flew back to Mumbai. Khan arrived in the city for a short rest, giving his bruised elbow a chance to heal before the next round of shooting. The upcoming schedule, slated to begin next week, will move the film’s focus from high‑octane combat to the human side of the conflict.
In Mumbai, the set will be a mix of studio builds and select outdoor locations that mimic the home fronts of soldiers and families affected by the Galwan standoff. Director Lakhia plans to delve into the emotional toll—letters left behind, quiet moments before battles, and the grief that follows. “We want the audience to feel the weight of every decision these troops made,” Lakhia explained, “not just the explosions.”
For Khan, the shift means swapping heavy gear for more nuanced performances. He’s been seen rehearsing scenes where his character reads a farewell note, his voice trembling with fear and resolve. Sources say the actor is using the brief downtime to study veteran interviews and understand the psychological strain soldiers endured.
Industry buzz suggests that the Mumbai leg could become the film’s most talked‑about portion, because it promises a balance of spectacle and sentiment. The blend of authentic Ladakh footage with tightly crafted emotional scenes aims to give viewers both a visual and a heart‑felt experience.
While the exact release date remains a secret, the makers hinted that a major announcement could drop soon, possibly aligning with a patriotic holiday to amplify the film’s impact. Fans who caught the July motion poster—featuring Khan in a grim, snow‑covered uniform—have taken to social media, eagerly awaiting more teasers.
‘Battle of Galwan’ is shaping up to be a defining entry in Khan’s filmography, merging his star power with a story that touches on recent geopolitics. If the Ladakh crew’s tales are any indicator, the final product will be as tough and resilient as the mountains where it began.