Prabhas’ Fauzi teaser row: Netaji’s grandnephew seeks withdrawal
Chandra Kumar Bose has called for the promotional video to be removed, raising questions about how historical figures are portrayed in fictional cinema.
Prabhas’ upcoming period drama Fauzi is facing criticism over its depiction of Indian freedom fighter Subhas Chandra Bose, with his grandnephew Chandra Kumar Bose demanding that the film’s teaser be withdrawn and replaced.
The dispute centres on a scene featuring Bose and German dictator Adolf Hitler in Berlin in 1942. In the teaser, Netaji discusses an Indian spy played by Prabhas, presenting the fictional character as an important figure in the struggle against British rule. Critics argue that the scene uses a real historical leader to elevate an invented character.
Chandra Kumar Bose publicly objected to the portrayal on October 26, asking director Hanu Raghavapudi and the production team to remove the video and issue a revised version. He also called for a public apology, according to reports by The Indian Express and NDTV.
Why has the Fauzi teaser sparked controversy?
The promotional video, titled File No. 25, was released on October 23 to mark Prabhas’ 47th birthday. It introduces the actor in a period action story set against the backdrop of India’s independence struggle.
The disputed sequence places Netaji in a conversation with Hitler, during which Bose describes the abilities of Prabhas’ fictional spy character. The scene also references a code inspired by the Bhagavad Gita.
For critics, the issue is not simply that the film includes fictional elements. Their objection is that a real figure associated with India’s freedom movement appears to endorse the achievements of a character created for the film.
Chandra Kumar Bose has argued that filmmakers can tell stories about the independence movement while still respecting historical facts. He has also challenged the way the teaser presents Netaji’s interaction with Hitler.
In his October 26 post on X, Bose called for the teaser to be taken down and replaced with one that does not distort history. His comments brought the disagreement into wider public discussion.
The historical context behind the dispute
Subhas Chandra Bose, popularly known as Netaji, was a prominent leader in India’s struggle for independence. During the Second World War, he sought international assistance for the movement against British colonial rule.
His meeting with Hitler in Berlin in 1942 is a documented historical event. However, the dialogue and the claims made by characters in a fictional film are separate from the historical record and should not automatically be understood as factual accounts.
Chandra Kumar Bose has stressed the need to preserve that distinction. He has argued that the historical circumstances surrounding Netaji’s dealings with foreign powers deserve careful treatment, particularly when a film uses those events to introduce an invented protagonist.
The controversy therefore raises a broader question for filmmakers working with historical settings: how can a story use dramatic invention without leaving audiences with a misleading impression of real people and events?
Social media reactions add to the debate
The teaser has also prompted criticism from sections of social media, with viewers questioning why Netaji is shown praising the fictional spy. Other viewers have defended the film, arguing that a period drama should be allowed creative freedom when telling an invented story.
The disagreement reflects two different expectations of historical cinema. Some audiences prioritise dramatic storytelling and accept fictionalised scenes as part of the genre. Others believe that prominent historical figures require particular care, even when they appear in a fictional narrative.
The distinction is important because promotional videos often reach viewers without the fuller context that may be provided by a complete film. A scene intended to establish a character’s importance can consequently become the focus of a separate debate about historical representation.
Will the Fauzi teaser be withdrawn?
As of October 27, 2026, the reports reviewed for this article had not confirmed that the filmmakers had agreed to withdraw or replace the teaser. The Indian Express reported on October 26 that the team had not issued an official response to Chandra Kumar Bose’s demands.
Fauzi is directed by Hanu Raghavapudi and produced by Mythri Movie Makers and T-Series Films. The film is scheduled for a theatrical release on March 19, 2027, according to published reports.
For now, the central issue remains the demand for a revised promotional video and the criticism of how Netaji has been represented. Whether the filmmakers make any changes remains unconfirmed.
Q1. Why is Prabhas’ Fauzi teaser controversial?
The teaser has drawn criticism for depicting Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose praising Prabhas’ fictional spy character during a scene involving Adolf Hitler. Critics argue that the portrayal risks misrepresenting a historical figure.
Q2. Who has demanded the removal of the Fauzi teaser?
Chandra Kumar Bose, grandnephew of Subhas Chandra Bose, has called for the teaser to be withdrawn and replaced with a revised version.
Q3. Who is directing Fauzi?
Hanu Raghavapudi is directing the film, which is produced by Mythri Movie Makers and presented by T-Series Films.
Q4. When was the Fauzi teaser released?
The teaser was released on October 23, 2026, to mark Prabhas’ 47th birthday.
Q5. What is the historical event shown in the teaser?
The disputed sequence depicts a dramatised version of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose’s meeting with Adolf Hitler in Berlin in 1942. The historical meeting is documented, but the film’s dialogue involving its fictional protagonist is dramatised.
Q6. Have the filmmakers agreed to withdraw the teaser?
As of October 27, 2026, the sources reviewed had not confirmed a withdrawal or replacement. The Indian Express reported on October 26 that the filmmakers had not officially responded to Chandra Kumar Bose’s demands.
Q7. When is Fauzi scheduled to release?
The film is scheduled for theatrical release on March 19, 2027, according to reporting published after the teaser launch.
