Sholay’s Thakur Goes Global: Iran Uses Iconic Character to Mock UN Over Wars

Iran used a Bollywood twist to target the UN, sharing a meme comparing Doctor Strange with Sholay’s Thakur to highlight its criticism of the world body’s role in stopping wars and global conflicts.

Post Published By: Sreeja Chowdhury

Updated : 30 September 2026, 12:26 PM IST

Iran Embassy uses Sholay’s Thakur meme to criticise UN’s role in global conflicts (Img: Dynamite News )

New Delhi: Iran has taken a sarcastic swipe at the United Nations, using a popular Bollywood reference to criticise what it described as the global body’s inability to prevent wars and resolve major international conflicts.

The Iranian Embassy in India shared a meme on social media platform X comparing the United Nations’ image in theory with its role in real-world conflicts. The post featured Marvel superhero Doctor Strange on one side and Thakur Baldev Singh, the iconic character from Bollywood film Sholay, on the other.

‘UN According to Books’ vs ‘UN in Reality’

The meme showed Doctor Strange with multiple arms and carried the caption “UN according to school books”, apparently symbolising the organisation’s wide powers and responsibilities.

UN according to school books
UN in reality pic.twitter.com/GQ4gOG8fC0

— Iran in India (@Iran_in_India) September 29, 2026

The second image featured Sholay character Thakur, played by Sanjeev Kumar, who loses both his arms in the film. It was labelled “UN in reality”, suggesting that the organisation lacks the ability to take decisive action during global crises.

The post did not mention any specific UN resolution or conflict, but it came amid growing international debates over the effectiveness of global institutions in handling wars and geopolitical tensions.

Iran’s Criticism of UN Role

Iran has repeatedly criticised the UN’s response to international conflicts. Iranian officials have accused the organisation of failing to prevent what Tehran describes as violations of international law by powerful nations.

The meme reflects Iran’s broader use of social media and popular culture references to communicate political messages and criticism of global powers.

Bollywood Reference Draws Attention

The use of Sholay’s Thakur added an Indian cultural angle to Iran’s message. The character is widely recognised among Indian audiences, making the comparison more relatable on social media.

The post quickly attracted attention online as users discussed Iran’s unusual choice of a Bollywood character to comment on international diplomacy and the role of the United Nations