Anupam Kher reacts to Ladakh Army disrespect video: 'It disturbed me deeply'
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Veteran actor Anupam Kher has spoken out after a video from Ladakh — reportedly showing a woman speaking disrespectfully to Army personnel at a barricade in Minamarg — circulated widely on social media. Kher, 71, said the clip left him deeply unsettled and prompted him to share a patriotic song from his directorial film Tanvi The Great.
What the Ladakh Video Shows
According to reports, the video shows a woman confronting security personnel after allegedly being stopped at a barricade in Minamarg, Ladakh. In the clip, she identifies herself as part of Gen Z and is heard questioning restrictions imposed on tourists, drawing comparisons with conditions in Kashmir. She is also heard saying, 'We are Gen Z, we'll not tolerate this nonsense.' The video has since gone viral, drawing mixed reactions from social media users.
Anupam Kher's Response
Sharing his reaction on Instagram, Kher — known for films such as Special 26 and A Wednesday — said he had been receiving a song from Tanvi The Great as a forward from several defence personnel and Army officers, accompanied by the message: 'A great Gen Z song for the real Gen Z of Bharat.'
In his own words, Kher wrote: 'Yesterday, I saw a video of a lady in Ladakh, calling herself Gen Z, speaking very disrespectfully to our Army personnel. It disturbed me deeply. And then I thought of sharing this song from Tanvi The Great — a song that our Army officers themselves are loving and forwarding. Because real Gen Z is not only about attitude. It is also about courage, discipline, service and respect! Here it is — May the Indian Army be victorious! Jai Hind!'
The Song and the Film
The video Kher shared features actor Shubhangi Dutt singing and dancing to the patriotic track 'Sena Ki Jai' from Tanvi The Great, which Kher has directed. The actor noted that the song has been receiving appreciation from defence personnel and Army officers, who have been sharing it widely within their networks.
Broader Context
The Minamarg incident is not isolated in the broader conversation around civil-military relations at tourist checkpoints in Ladakh, a region that has seen heightened security protocols since its reorganisation as a Union Territory in 2019. Restrictions at certain zones near the Line of Control remain in force for civilian visitors, and confrontations over such curbs have periodically surfaced on social media. Notably, the viral nature of this particular clip — and the speed with which it drew celebrity responses — reflects the growing role of social media in amplifying civil-military flashpoints. Kher's counter-response, framing defence personnel as the 'real Gen Z,' has itself drawn significant online attention.