‘Battle of Galwan’ teaser: Tehseen Poonawalla slams trolls criticizing Salman Khan’s expressions, says ‘that smile isn’t weakness, it’s acceptance’

Salman Khan recently released the teaser of ‘Battle of Galwan’ on his 60th birthday, December 27, 2025. It sparked massive buzz online. While fans praised the intensity and patriotic tone, a section of social media users mocked a brief smile seen on Salman’s face. They questioned its relevance in a war drama. Stepping in firmly, former ‘Bigg Boss 13’ contestant Tehseen Poonawalla shut down the criticism. He offered a powerful interpretation of the moment.

Tehseen Poonawalla defends Salman Khan's expression in ‘Battle of Galwan’ teaser

Tehseen Poonawalla took to X (formerly Twitter) to call out the trolling aimed at Salman Khan. He explained that the much-discussed smile was not casual or misplaced. According to him, it reflected composure and controlled aggression.




He wrote, “Those trolling Salman for that slight smile in the #BattleOfGalwan teaser are missing the point. That isn’t casual – it’s composure. It’s calm aggression. It’s the look of a soldier who understands what he’s walking into and refuses to panic when the enemy is right in front of him.”

Tehseen further highlighted how Salman conveyed both pain and courage through restraint, adding that such emotions often define soldiers facing life-or-death situations.

“That smile isn’t weakness,” says Tehseen Poonawalla

Expanding on his point, Tehseen underlined the mindset of soldiers on the battlefield. He wrote that for a soldier, there are only two outcomes. Victory or sacrifice. And both, he said, are forms of triumph.

He concluded his post by quoting lines from the teaser: “Jawaano yaad rahe, zakham lage toh medal samajhna aur maut dikhe toh salaam karna… Aaj nahi toh phir kabhi.” and “Maut se kya darna, usse toh aana hi hai.”

Tehseen added, “That smile isn’t weakness. It’s acceptance. It’s courage. If the film keeps this tone, there’s serious potential here.”

About ‘Battle of Galwan’

Directed by Apoorva Lakhia, Battle of Galwan is inspired by the real-life 2020 clash between Indian and Chinese troops in the Galwan Valley. Salman Khan headlines the film, with Chitrangada Singh playing a key role. The supporting cast includes Zeyn Shaw, Ankur Bhatia, Abhilash Chaudhary, Vipin Bhardwaj, and Heera Sohal.

The teaser was unveiled on Salman Khan’s 60th birthday and quickly became a talking point online. After earlier speculation about an Eid release, the makers have now locked April 17, 2026, as the film’s theatrical release date.

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