120 Bahadur Actor Ajinkya Deo Discovers Rare Quality In Farhan Akhtar: He Was Always In Student Mode – EXCLUSIVE

Veteran

actor Ajinkya Deo is all set to feature in the Farhan Akhtar starrer, 120 Bahadur. Directed by Razneesh Ghai, the 1962 Sino-Indian War film is slated to be released on November 21, 2025, in theatres. Before the release, Ajinkya Deo had an exclusive interaction with Zoom, where he opened up about his character and revealed the rare quality that he discovered in Farhan Akhtar.

Ajinkya Deo on his character

During a candid conversation with us, we asked Ajinkya Deo to shed more light on his character. The Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior actor said, “It was indeed a very challenging role, as you rightfully mentioned. 120 Bahadur is a film that captures the indomitable spirit of India. It recounts the story of 120 Indian soldiers who held their ground against 3,000 Chinese soldiers during the 1962 war. It’s a story that not many people know about, which makes it even more meaningful, as this film will bring it to the forefront for the Indian audience.” While elaborating more about his character, the actor stated, “I play a brigadier, a very significant historical figure. For confidentiality reasons, we cannot reveal his real name, but he was one of the most decorated officers in Indian military history. My character shoulders the responsibility of coordinating the entire operation from the base, while Major Shaitan Singh Bhati, on whom the film is based, led the heroic charge on the frontlines. The brigadier’s biggest conflict was realising that the odds were impossible, yet still giving the command to fight. That’s the spirit of the Indian soldier.”Also Read : 120 Bahadur: Rohit Sharma Praises Farhan Akhtar Film's Trailer, Talks About 'True Bravery' When asked about his preparation for the role, Ajinkya Deo, the elder son of the late legendary actor Ramesh Deo, said, “From a preparation perspective, this role demanded both physical and mental readiness. We shot at high altitudes in Ladakh, so I had to be in good shape, which I take care of anyway. Razy, our director, comes from an army background, so he was very specific about the body language, tone, and command an officer like a brigadier should carry. We worked on the details together on set, and by God’s grace, it all came together beautifully.”

Ajinkya Deo heaps praise on Farhan Akhtar

Farhan Akhtar is playing the role of Major Shaitan Singh Bhati in 120 Bahadur. When asked about the thing he learnt from filmmaker-actor, Ajinkya Deo said, “Farhan was fantastic to work with. I had always admired him for his work in films like Lakshya and Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, which showed his discipline and cinematic sensibilities. But seeing him up close at such gruelling altitudes where even breathing was difficult was inspiring. He gave his all with total focus, energy, and discipline.”

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“What impressed me most was the humility he carried as an actor. Even though he’s a celebrated filmmaker himself, he was completely committed to Razy’s direction, never interfering, always in student mode—asking for cues, perfecting his performance. That’s a rare quality in a director-actor. He has truly embodied the role of Major Shaitan Singh Bhati with dedication and soul,” Ajinkya Deo concluded. Talking about 120 Bahadur, the film also stars Raashii Khanna, Ankit Siwach, Vivan Bhatena, Eijaz Khan, Ashutosh Shukla and others in pivotal roles. Stay tuned for more updates!