Saif Ali Khan faced flak online when he claimed that he doesn't think there was a concept of India until the British arrived. In an interview to Film Companion, the nawab quipped, "I was excited to play the role in Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior because it's a delicious role. But when people say this is history, I don't think it is. I am quite aware of what the history was. I don't think there was a concept of India till the British gave it one."

He was trolled on Twitter for criticising his film and his lack of historical facts. Author Tarek Fateh replied, "Yeah, right. French East India Company was about China and Vasco D'Gama went to Fiji (sic)."