Chandra Kumar Bose, the grandnephew of freedom fighter Subhas Chandra Bose, has publicly asked the makers of Prabhas’ upcoming film Fauzi to take down its teaser. He says the promo shows Netaji in a way that twists historical facts. The teaser, released on October 23, 2026, to mark Prabhas’ 47th birthday, shows Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose speaking with Adolf Hitler and praising Prabhas’ fictional character. That scene has triggered strong reactions from Netaji’s family, political leaders, and many social media users.
What the Fauzi Teaser Shows
The two-minute-and-31-second video opens in Berlin on May 29, 1942. It shows Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, played by Marathi actor Subodh Bhave, in a conversation with Hitler. Bose asks for Germany’s help in India’s freedom struggle. The scene then turns to Bose telling Hitler about a fearless Indian spy, played by Prabhas, who has been causing trouble for the British.
Prabhas’ character is described as “India’s biggest rebel soldier.” The teaser ends with him firing a large weapon in a tense, action-heavy sequence. The video was shared by Prabhas on Instagram and labelled “File No. 25.”
The film is directed by Hanu Raghavapudi, known for Sita Ramam. It is produced by Mythri Movie Makers and presented by T-Series Films. The cast includes Imanvi, Mithun Chakraborty, Jaya Prada, and Anupam Kher. Fauzi is scheduled to release in theatres on March 19, 2027, in Telugu, Hindi, Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam, and Bengali.
Chandra Kumar Bose Calls It a Crime
Chandra Kumar Bose posted on X on October 26, 2026, asking the film team to remove the teaser and bring out a new version. He wrote that mixing fiction with history is not acceptable.
“Mixing fiction with history is a crime. I hope @hanurpudi and his team @fauzithemovie / @MythriOfficial pull down this teaser, put out a new one and make sure that history is not distorted. Hope #Prabhas too gets to read this.”
Speaking to IANS, Bose explained why he believes the teaser is misleading. He said filmmakers are free to show India’s freedom struggle on screen, but they should not play loose with facts when real national icons are involved.
“Distorting facts and resorting to fiction while dealing with national icons is, I think, a crime.”
Bose also said Netaji met Hitler with a clear strategic purpose. According to him, Netaji understood that Germany and Japan could help India’s freedom movement at that point in the war. Bose stressed that Netaji opposed fascism and believed in democracy.
“Netaji recognised that Germany’s Hitler and Japan’s Hideki Tojo could provide assistance to India’s freedom movement at that juncture. He vehemently opposed fascism and believed in democracy and people’s democratic rights.”
Chandra Kumar Bose further said Netaji dealt with Hitler as an equal and did not act like a subordinate. He pointed out that Hitler later became a megalomaniac and that Hitler’s views on India in Mein Kampf showed a poor understanding of the country. Bose demanded a public apology from director Hanu Raghavapudi, saying the director should apologise to the people of India and to everyone who values the freedom struggle.
Political Leaders Join the Criticism
Samajwadi Party MP Awadhesh Prasad also criticised the teaser. Speaking in Lucknow, he said comparing Netaji with Hitler or other infamous figures was wrong and not in the country’s interest.
“Spreading such an ideology about Netaji’s image is anti-national. Everyone knows the kind of leader Netaji was regarded as across the world and the respect he commanded.”
“Comparing him to Hitler or people associated with infamy is not right and is neither in the interest of the country nor the nation.”
Prasad’s comments added a political dimension to the row, which had until then been driven mainly by Netaji’s family and social media users.
Social Media Users Question the Scene
Many users on X and other platforms objected to the way Netaji was shown praising a fictional hero while speaking to Hitler. One widely shared comment read:
“The audacity to insult Subash Chandra Bose by making him portray as a cheerleader just for the sake of aura farming Prabhas. Its an insult to his efforts, his sacrifices that he has done for our country. You should be ashamed.”
Another user demanded legal action:
“I strongly demand that a criminal case be filed against the makers for exploiting Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose to elevate and glorify Prabhas’s character. How dare anyone even think of doing something so disrespectful? They must issue an immediate public apology and take this down at the earliest.”
Some viewers also questioned the use of AI-generated visuals in the teaser. One user asked why Netaji’s image was being used “for this third-grade movie promotion.”
Not everyone agreed with the backlash. A section of Prabhas’ fans defended the film, saying Fauzi is a fictional story inspired by real characters. They compared it to RRR, which also mixed historical figures with fictional storytelling.
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No Response From the Makers Yet
As of October 26, 2026, the makers of Fauzi, director Hanu Raghavapudi, and actor Prabhas have not issued any public statement on the controversy. The teaser remains online on YouTube and social media platforms. The film is still listed for its March 19, 2027 theatrical release.
Chandra Kumar Bose’s demand has put the spotlight on how Indian films handle real freedom fighters in fictional stories. The teaser row has also drawn in political voices, turning a film promotion into a wider debate about history and creative freedom.
For more entertainment updates and fact-checked news, keep reading VvipTimes.
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