Farhan Akhtar praises Jawaharlal Nehru in interview, sparking social media backlash and boycott calls, while 120 Bahadur performs at the box office.
120 Bahadur: Following a recent interview advertising his new war movie, 120 Bahadur, Farhan Akhtar has unpredictably found himself at the center of a political storm. When the actor-director was asked to pick his favorite Indian prime minister, his response sparked a contentious discussion on social media, with some enthusiastically supporting him and others calling for a boycott. Razneesh Ghai’s combat drama, which was released in November, is based on the 1962 Indo-China combat’s Battle of Rezang La. Major Shaitan Singh, portrayed by Farhan, commanded 120 Indian soldiers in a valiant defense against almost 3,000 Chinese soldiers. The movie seeks to honor and celebrate the bravery of these unsung heroes.
Farhan Akhtar was asked to select a “favourite PM” by host Samdish Bhatia during his visit on Unfiltered by Samdish. After initially laughing and referring to it as a “absurd question,” Farhan said that he respected Jawaharlal Nehru, India’s first prime minister. He said that he greatly liked Nehru and that he had “the largest foresight” and guided India “in a scientific direction.” Reactions quickly surfaced as video excerpts from the discussion circulated on social media. Many netizens started criticizing Farhan for praising Nehru. Soon after, the hashtag calling for a boycott of Farhan Akhtar began to gain popularity.
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Nehru was described as “the worst leader of India” by one user, while another added, “Boycott Farhan.” Additionally, a number of users cautioned him to exercise caution, citing instances in which other public figures have faced criticism for similar statements. Another responded, “Beautifully said by Farhan Akhtar,” in support of him. Nehru envisioned India’s future in addition to leading it. This was “the greatest truth in Indian history,” according to another.
However, following the release, the 120 Bahadur team also held a meeting with Defense Minister Rajnath Singh. Farhan said that the Indian Postal Service honored the Battle of Rezang La with a unique MyStamp, describing the occasion as a proud one for the squad. Farhan Akhtar has not released a statement in response to the political uproar over his comments.
A proud moment as General Upendra Dwivedi, PVSM, AVSM, Brigadiers, Major Generals, Army officers and their families joined us for a special screening of 120 Bahadur in Delhi.@excelmovies @ritesh_sid @tapeshbagati @RazyGhai pic.twitter.com/lY94AQEuLl
— Farhan Akhtar (@FarOutAkhtar) November 22, 2025
Box Office Collection for 120 Bahadur
The movie 120 Bahadur by Farhan Akhtar is still popular for a variety of reasons. On its first day, 120 Bahadur made almost Rs 2.25 crore despite receiving mediocre reviews. In India, its first weekend’s earnings came to almost Rs 10 crore. Although some viewers thought the emotional sections did not flow well with the fierce battle scenes, the cinematography and background score were complimented by the audience.