Farhan Akhtar’s 120 Bahadur vs Abhay Deol's 1962: The War in the Hills—A Tale of the Rezang La Battle

Farhan Akhtar is set to bring an epic war saga to the big screen with 120 Bahadur, a film directed by Razneesh Ghai that will depict the legendary Battle of Rezang La from the 1962 Indo-China war. While the film has already piqued the interest of audience members, those eager to witness the heroic tale of the 120 brave Indian soldiers take on Chinese intruders don’t have to wait for the theatrical release. A web series based on the exact same battle, 1962: The War in the Hills, is already available on OTT platforms, offering audiences a glimpse into the valor of Indian troops who fought against overwhelming odds.
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Produced by Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani’s production house, 120 Bahadur promises to be an intense war drama centered on the brave soldiers of the Indian Army’s 13 Kumaon Regiment, who defended Rezang La against a massive Chinese attack. The battle, which took place in November 1962, saw 120 Indian soldiers, under the command of Major Shaitan Singh , take on over 3000 Chinese troops in sub-zero temperatures and treacherous terrain.Around 1300 Chinese soldiers were killed in the battle.
Razneesh Ghai who is known for making Dhaakad with Kangana Ranaut is helming the project.. While details about the cast and release date remain under wraps, expectations are high for this film, given Bollywood’s recent trend of producing large-scale war dramas like Sky Force.
Before 120 Bahadur hits the big screen, audiences can watch 1962: The War in the Hills, a web series that also delves into the heroic events of Rezang La. Released in 2021 on Disney+ Hotstar, the show stars Abhay Deol in the lead role, portraying an Indian Army officer leading his troops against the Chinese invasion. The series, directed by Mahesh Manjrekar, offers a dramatized yet emotional retelling of the battle, emphasizing the personal and patriotic struggles of the soldiers.
Adding an interesting dimension to the narrative, the series features Meiyang Chang as the chief of the Chinese army. While the show received mixed reviews, its portrayal of the battle and the sacrifice of Indian soldiers was appreciated.
It is to be believed that Farhan delayed his much awaited return to director’s chair with Don 3 with Ranveer Singh for this film as he believed the role to be a once in a lifetime opportunity. He has reportedly dropped a lot of weight to play the role of Shaitaan Singh in the film.