Salman Khan says ‘can't blackout while doing action' during Battle of Galwan's 20-day Ladakh schedule, explains challenges of doing stunts at 59: ‘Have to give more'

Indian Express

3 days ago

After delivering the underwhelming Sikandar, an ageing Salman Khan has opted for a physically demanding non-fiction film: Battle of Galwan. The Apoorva Lakhia film is based on the Galwan Valley clash in 2020 between Indian and Chinese troops at the Ladakh border. Fought 15,000 feet above sea level, the brutal battle involved hand-to-hand combat using sticks and stones as firearms are prohibited in the area. The battle resulted in several casualties on both sides first time in 45 years.
Recently, speaking about preparing for the film, Salman Khan admitted that it was amazing to sign the film upon narration but extremely challenging to shoot it in the real location.
Although, he is not new to performing stunts; at 59, Salman Khan fears the challenges that await him. 'Of course it is physically demanding in every years, month, day and hour. I have to give a lot more time now. Pehle ek do hafte mein hojata tha. Abhi thoda sa zyada time lagta hai. (Earlier, I used to finish all this in a week or two. Now it takes more time.) I have been running, working out, kicking and punching. In this film, all these things are required. For Sikandar, the action and character was different. But for Galwan, everything is different,' he told PTI.
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Sharing details about the film, the actor added, 'Shooting in Ladakh, in high altitude. It can't be like 'action karte karte behosh hogaya' (I can't blackout while performing). For it, I have to take proper training. We have to shoot in the cold water there. When I signed the film, it felt amazing but it is very difficult film to do. Out of the 20 days schedule in Ladakh, I have to shoot for at least 8 days in that water. Thanda thanda paani. (Ice cold water)'. He then went on to sing the iconic song from Pati Patni Aur Woh (1978), 'Thande Thande Paani Se Nahana Chahiye'.
Speaking to NDTV, he further shared, 'We will start shooting it in another 10 days. This will be a quick release and an intense one. Humanly, it is a difficult film because high altitudes, hand-to-hand action… raw brutal action in ice cold water of Leh Ladakh. I have only used thanda (cold) pani to drink. I will be in the water for eight days. It will be taaza taaza (fresh) snow melting paani. That will be challenging.'
Dreading his shooting schedule in the ice cold water, Salman Khan told India Today, 'My preparation for Galwan is slow. I am not feeling it yet. I will feel it. Especially, I will feel the cold water in Ladakh.'
When PTI asked about plans for the film's release, Salman Khan smiled and replied, 'This won't release on Eid. I will bring something else for Eid. And later bring something for Diwali as well.'