Despite being no stranger to high-octane stunts, Salman Khan admits that the physical demands of his roles have become more daunting with age. Khan is currently working on ‘Battle Of Galwan’ which sees him in an intense avatar. Fans have gotten a glimpse of his fitness regime and transformation through social media as the actor has been dropping his photos. Not to mention, in one of the videos, he was seen climbing a tree which displayed how fit he is. But recently, Khan has admitted that it’s difficult to do action at this age. Salman is now 59 and is candid about the toll action sequences take on him. “Of course it is physically demanding in every years, month, day and hour. I have to give a lot more time now. Pehle ek do hafte mein hojata tha. Abhi thoda sa zyada time lagta hai,” he told PTI. “I have been running, working out, kicking and punching. In this film, all these things are required. For Sikandar, the action and character was different. But for Galwan, everything is different.” After the lukewarm reception to Sikandar, Salman has shifted gears, taking on a more grounded and physically intense role in Battle of Galwan. Directed by Apoorva Lakhia, the film is based on the 2020 Galwan Valley clash between Indian and Chinese soldiers in Ladakh. With firearms prohibited in the region, the confrontation unfolded as a visceral, hand-to-hand combat scenario at 15,000 feet above sea level — a deadly skirmish that claimed lives on both sides, marking the first such fatalities in 45 years. Opening up about the tough shooting conditions, Salman shared, “Shooting in Ladakh, in high altitude. It can’t be like ‘action karte karte behosh hogaya’. For it, I have to take proper training. We have to shoot in the cold water there. When I signed the film, it felt amazing but it is very difficult film to do. Out of the 20 days schedule in Ladakh, I have to shoot for at least 8 days in that water. Thanda thanda paani.” The actor even lightened the mood by breaking into a line from the classic 1978 track “Thande Thande Paani Se Nahana Chahiye.” Speaking to NDTV, Salman elaborated further, “We will start shooting it in another 10 days. This will be a quick release and an intense one. Humanly, it is a difficult film because high altitudes, hand-to-hand action… raw brutal action in ice cold water of Leh Ladakh. I have only used thanda (cold) pani to drink. I will be in the water for eight days. It will be taaza taaza (fresh) snow melting paani. That will be challenging.” When asked about the film’s release timeline, the superstar hinted at a packed calendar. “This won’t release on Eid. I will bring something else for Eid. And later bring something for Diwali as well,” he smiled, promising more cinematic treats to come.
