Trump talks about annihilating Iran.
But he knows Iran is not defenseless.
Since we informed they have recently been watching Bollywood instead of Hollywood. pic.twitter.com/v6Le8zkH5X
— Iran Embassy in Zimbabwe (@IRANinZIMBABWE) September 23, 2026
The embassy shared a tense sequence from the blockbuster Telugu film Bhagavanth Kesari on X. In the scene, the heroic protagonist, played by Nandamuri Balakrishna, single-handedly fends off a hail of bullets from hostile forces before delivering a signature punch dialogue. In its accompanying text, the embassy claimed that Iranian officials had recently shifted their viewing habits from Hollywood to Indian cinema. They added that Trump ought to know that Iran is far from defenceless. While the post mistakenly tagged the Telugu film as a Bollywood project, the cultural reference struck a chord across social media.
Surreal collab
Online users reacted with delight and irony at the surreal geopolitical crossover. Comments like “Tollywood was not prepared for this collab” and “Balayya goes global” flooded the platform. Indian cinema fans were surprised to see a mass action hero, who also happens to be a legislator from the state of Andhra Pradesh, cited as a metaphor for defence capabilities. Balakrishna is known for his high-voltage punchlines and swagger in action-heavy titles such as Legend, Simha, Akhanda, and Daaku Maharaj.
Other movie references by the Embassy’s handle
This incident is not an isolated experiment for the Iranian Embassy’s social media team. The account has frequently deployed pop-culture tropes to deliver political commentary. In recent months, they compared international figures to Marvel villains Thanos and Ebony Maw, posted about tactical reality using Hollywood tropes, and framed diplomatic tensions through references to Gladiator.
Meanwhile, Balakrishna is acting in Dada, a mass-action entertainer co-starring Manchu Manoj and Kajal Aggarwal. The film is slated for a Christmas 2026 release.
Also Read: Balakrishna’s Son Mokshagna to Make Acting Debut; Vassishta Mallidi to Direct
