120 Bahadur Review: Farhan Akhtar's Performance Gets Mixed Reviews Amid The Power-Packed Storyline

Farhan Akhtar’s much-awaited film, 120 Bahadur, is all set to hit the theatres on November 21, 2025. However, before the film’s much-anticipated release in theatres, early reviews are here with mixed reactions. The film emotionally portrays the Rezang La battle of 1962, highlighting the spirit and sacrifice of Indian soldiers.

120 Bahadur storyline

The film is directed by Razneesh Razi Ghai, the son of an Indian Army officer, and was shot on real locations, making it special. The first half of the film captures the striking beauty of Ladakh and explores the soldiers’ personal lives and the camaraderie they share, with many light-hearted moments.

It's only in the second half that the painful ordeal of Indian soldiers is felt. The scenes turn intense, welling up the eyes. 120 Bahadur narrates the story of patriotism and elevates beyond the conventional war drama. The film, based on true events, gives a sense of emotional connections and also depicts the harsh realities of high-altitude warfare.

The scarcity of resources, extreme climatic challenges and despite all this, the determination of the soldiers. The film is not limited to war; it also shows the emotions behind every sacrifice. Sharing the review, a film critic took to his X (formerly Twitter) handle and gave the film 4.5 stars out of 5. A part of his review can be read as:

“Rating: 4.5*/5. #120Bahadur is a complete package of Deshbhakti + the journey of the unbeatable warriors. Direction of #RazneeshGhai is really impressive with the eye-pleasing cinematography of Japanese born Japanese cinematographer Tetsuo Nagata."

Is 120 Bahadur based on true events?

Farhan Akhtar will be seen in the pivotal role of Major Shaitan Singh. For the unversed, Major Shaitan Singh was the hero of the 1962 Sino-Indian War, hailed for his leadership during the Battle of Rezang La. Why did Major Singh’s name gain wide attention? Well, it was Major Shaitan, who fought with just 120 soldiers of Charlie Company, 13 Kumaon Regiment, whereas the Chinese Army had more than 3000 soldiers on the battleground.

Farhan Akhtar gets mixed reactions on his portrayal of Major Shaitan Singh

120 Bahadur features Farhan Akhtar in a never-before-seen avatar, commanding his regiment and issuing orders to his men. Many heaped praises on Farhan Akhtar for his power-packed role and screen presence. But his suave manner of speaking turned out to be a disappointment. Farhan’s accent was too urbane for the character.

Major Shaitan, who was from Banasar village in Rajasthan, spoke in a different manner, which critics thought Farhan couldn’t embrace. During the war, Major Shaitan was 37 and Farhan, who is in his 50s, was nowhere close to the soldier. Apart from Farhan Akhtar, the film features Raashi Khanna, Vivan Bhatena, Sparsh Waliaa, Ankit Siwach, Dhanveer Singh, Saheb Verma, Eijaz Khan and Ajinkya Deo.

Let us know your opinion on 120 Bahadur!

Also Read: Sonam Kapoor Ahuja Shows Off Her Baby Bump, Confirms Second Pregnancy In A Beautiful Pink Ensemble

AWESOME NEWS! Now you can download BollywoodShaadis app and never miss a story. Get App

AWESOME NEWS! Now you can download BollywoodShaadis app and never miss a story. Choose your device Android or IOS (Apple)