120 Bahadur Breaks Ground in Indian Cinema with Nationwide Paid Previews Three Days Ahead of Release

Mumbai, India – November 15, 2025 – In a bold and unprecedented move for Bollywood, the makers of the upcoming war drama 120 Bahadur have announced paid previews across India on November 18, 2025, exactly three days before its official theatrical release on November 21. This initiative coincides with Rezang La Day, marking the 63rd anniversary of the historic Battle of Rezang La during the 1962 Sino-Indian War, and serves as a tribute to the 120 valiant soldiers who fought there.

Directed by Razneesh Ghai, 120 Bahadur stars Farhan Akhtar in the lead role as Major Shaitan Singh Bhati, a Param Vir Chakra awardee, with Raashii Khanna portraying his wife, Shagun Kanwar. The film, produced by Excel Entertainment (led by Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani) and Trigger Happy Studios, recounts the legendary tale of the Charlie Company from the 13th Kumaon Regiment. These 120 soldiers, mostly Ahirs from Haryana and Rajasthan, held off a vastly superior Chinese force of over 3,000 troops in sub-zero temperatures at an altitude of 14,000 feet in Eastern Ladakh, preventing a potential occupation of the Ladakh region. The battle is remembered for its extraordinary bravery, with Major Singh and his men fighting to the last man and last bullet.

The film’s plot delves into this forgotten chapter of Indian military history with emotional depth, large-scale action sequences, and a focus on patriotism without veering into jingoism. Akhtar, who also serves as a producer, emphasized in a recent interview, “Patriotism is beautiful, but jingoism is very ugly,” highlighting the film’s intent to portray the human side of soldiers’ stories. Shot in challenging conditions to recreate the harsh winter landscape, the production involved snow experts to ensure authenticity.

This release strategy marks a disruptive first for Hindi cinema, where paid previews days in advance are rare. Typically seen in South Indian films or international blockbusters, this approach signals the makers’ confidence in the project’s quality and aims to build organic buzz through word-of-mouth. A source close to the production stated, “This is not just a publicity call; it is an act of faith. They are confident that the emotion of the film would speak for itself, and paid previews on such an important date reinforce further the authenticity and respect with which 120 Bahadur has been made.”

Bookings for the previews, featuring over 30 shows nationwide, are set to open this afternoon. The film will release worldwide in cinemas on November 21, promising to rekindle national pride by honoring the unsung heroes of Rezang La.

With its teaser released in August and trailer in early November, 120 Bahadur has already generated significant anticipation, drawing comparisons to epic war films for its intense retelling of real events. As Indian cinema continues to evolve, this innovative release plan could set a new benchmark for audience engagement and thematic storytelling.