Archive · 24 Sep 2026
Iran Uses Tollywood Action Clip to Mock Trump’s Threat
Iran’s Embassy in Zimbabwe posted a movie clip aimed at Donald Trump.
Trump had warned that the United States could “annihilate” Iran if tensions became worse.
The clip comes from the 2023 Telugu movie Bhagavanth Kesari.
In it, actor Nandamuri Balakrishna fights a group of armed people.
He uses a manhole cover as a shield.
Iran’s post said the country was not defenseless.
The embassy also joked that Trump’s administration had been watching Bollywood.
People online pointed out that the movie is actually from Tollywood, which refers to Telugu-language cinema.
Iran’s Embassy in Zimbabwe shared a 58-second action clip from the 2023 Telugu film Bhagavanth Kesari on X.
The post followed Donald Trump’s warning that the United States could “annihilate” Iran if regional tensions escalated.
The clip shows Nandamuri Balakrishna defeating a heavily armed squad while using a manhole cover as a shield.
The embassy caption said Iran was not defenseless and claimed the Trump administration had recently been watching Bollywood.
Social media users criticized the post’s reference to Bollywood because Bhagavanth Kesari is a Telugu-language film.
- Who
- Iran’s Embassy in Zimbabwe, Donald Trump, and Telugu actor Nandamuri Balakrishna.
- What
- The embassy used a film clip to mock Trump’s warning about Iran.
- When
- Following Trump’s remarks at the United Nations General Assembly; the clip was from a 2023 film.
- Where
- The post was shared on X by Iran’s Embassy in Zimbabwe.
- Why
- It responded to Trump’s statement that the United States could “annihilate” Iran if regional tensions escalated.
Iranian Response
U.S. Warning
Message about Iran’s defenses
Iranian Response
Iran’s embassy said Iran was not defenseless and used an action-film scene to make the point.
U.S. Warning
Trump warned that the United States could “annihilate” Iran if regional tensions escalated.
Film reference
Iranian Response
The embassy described the clip as part of a sarcastic joke about the Trump administration watching Bollywood.
U.S. Warning
Social media users noted that Bhagavanth Kesari is a Telugu-language film, making the Bollywood reference inaccurate.
- Video length
- 58 seconds
- Film
- Bhagavanth Kesari
- Film release year
- 2023
- Film language
- Telugu
- Platform
- X
- Iranian account
- Iran’s Embassy in Zimbabwe
- Trigger
- Donald Trump’s warning that the United States could “annihilate” Iran