Salman Khan has firmly rejected reports that the government pressured his team to rewrite the script of Maatrubhumi: May War Rest in Peace. Speaking at the film’s trailer launch in Mumbai on Friday, November 6, 2026, the actor called the claims “bakwas” (nonsense) and said the makers simply chose to develop a new version of the story on their own.
What Salman Khan Said at the Trailer Launch
The superstar addressed the rumours directly, dismissing any suggestion that the film faced government interference over its portrayal of India-China relations.
“Rewrite karo, ye sab bakwaas hai. It’s not true at all. Humne picture banayi hai in soldiers ke upar — what they go through and what their families go through — vo side or ye side — dono sides. Toh isme koi negativity nahi hai. Bas halaat hain negative hain”
— Salman Khan at the Maatrubhumi trailer launch
Translated, Khan explained that the film is about soldiers on both sides, what they experience, and what their families go through. He stressed that there is “no negativity” in the film itself — only the circumstances are negative.
Khan also pushed back against the narrative that the film carries an anti-China tone. “There are narratives that this film is anti-China. The government has pressurised us to rewrite the script. All these claims are ‘bakwas,’” he told reporters.
Why the Film Faced Delay
Maatrubhumi was originally titled Battle of Galwan and was inspired by the June 2020 clash between Indian and Chinese troops in the Galwan Valley in eastern Ladakh. The violent confrontation claimed the lives of 20 Indian soldiers and remains one of the most significant military flashpoints between the two countries in recent years.
Reports earlier this year suggested that the Ministry of Defence had raised concerns about the film’s content and its mention of China, especially in light of improved diplomatic ties between New Delhi and Beijing. Chinese state-backed media, including the Global Times, had also criticised the film’s teaser, accusing it of “distorting facts” and fueling anti-China sentiment.
The film’s title was changed from Battle of Galwan to Maatrubhumi earlier this year. Khan clarified at the trailer launch that Battle of Galwan was never meant to be the final title. “We had just put that clap in casually. We knew we didn’t want that title, and eventually, we found the title in our own song — Maatrubhumi — that’s Himesh’s song,” he said.
Authors Shiv Aroor and Rahul Singh End Association
A day before the trailer launch, defence journalists and authors Shiv Aroor and Rahul Singh announced they had ended their association with the film. The project was initially conceived as an adaptation of a chapter from their book India’s Most Fearless.
Aroor shared a statement on X on November 5, 2026, explaining that the film had evolved beyond the Galwan incident documented in their book. “As the film has evolved, it has moved beyond the account of the Galwan incident in our India’s Most Fearless series that first brought us on board,” he wrote.
CBFC Clearance and Cast Details
The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) cleared the film’s trailer on Wednesday, November 4, 2026. The trailer received a U/A 16+ certificate and runs for 4 minutes and 43 seconds.
Directed by Apoorva Lakhia and produced by Salman Khan Films, the war drama features Salman Khan as Colonel Bikkumalla Santosh Babu, the Commanding Officer of the 16 Bihar Regiment who led Indian troops during the Galwan clash and was posthumously awarded the Maha Vir Chakra.
The supporting cast includes Chitrangda Singh, Mukesh Rishi, Ankur Bhatia, Zeyn Shaw, and Abhilash Chaudhary in key roles.
December 4 Release Date Confirmed
Salman Khan announced at the trailer launch that Maatrubhumi: May War Rest in Peace will arrive in theatres on December 4, 2026.
The film will clash at the box office with Shraddha Kapoor’s Eetha, which is also slated for a December 4 release this year.
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Khan also addressed the delays, explaining that the team wanted to ensure the visual effects met expectations. “Today, there are a lot of VFX experts out there who examine each and every shot of a film. So, with this film, we don’t want to give anyone an opportunity to zoom in on a scene and criticise its VFX,” he said.
Also Read: Salman Khan Says Stop Talking About ₹4,000 Crore and VFX, Focus on Ram, Sita, and the Scriptures
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