Farhan Akhtar Endures Sub‑Zero Ladakh to Bring Battle of Rezang La to Life in 120 Bahadur

Farhan Akhtar Endures Sub‑Zero Ladakh to Bring Battle of Rezang La to Life in 120 Bahadur

Farhan Akhtar’s most ambitious on-screen turn yet, 120 Bahadur, takes realism to the extreme. Filmed amid Ladakh’s unforgiving terrain at nearly 14,000 feet, temperatures plunged as low as −10 °C during key sequences. According to insiders, “The goal was to honour the story genuinely—and Farhan committed on every level: physical, mental, emotional.”

Based on the true story of India’s valiant Charlie Company from the 13 Kumaon Regiment, the film dramatizes the 1962 Battle of Rezang La. Major Shaitan Singh Bhati (Param Vir Chakra) and his 120 men stood firm against a vastly superior Chinese force in one of modern warfare’s greatest last stands. Despite losing 114 of their own, Indian accounts claim more than 1,300 Chinese casualties—an act of courage etched into history.

To embody Major Bhati, Akhtar underwent rigorous military-style training and acclimatisation to high altitude, shaping his performance with both intensity and authenticity.

Directed by Razneesh ‘Razy’ Ghai and produced by an alliance of Excel Entertainment (Farhan Akhtar & Ritesh Sidhwani) and Trigger Happy Studios (Amit Chandrra), 120 Bahadur brings together expert recreations powered by Snow Business—the global snow-effects specialists behind major films and series such as House of the Dragon and The Witcher. Their craftsmanship ensures Ladakh’s winter walls feel and look authentic on screen.

The ensemble cast also includes Mrunal Thakur, Paresh Rawal, and Hussain Dalal. With visuals that capture raw Himalayan grandeur and an emotionally grounded narrative, 120 Bahadur is shaping up to be one of Bollywood’s most patriotic and cinematic war dramas.

Mark your calendars: 120 Bahadur marches into Indian cinemas on 21 November 2025