Salman Khan's Maatrubhumi Trailer Launches; Film Moves to Dec. 4 Release

Salman Khan launched the trailer for Maatrubhumi: May War Rest in Peace in Mumbai on Nov. 6, 2026, confirming a Dec. 4 theatrical release after a last-minute shift from Nov. 20. He dismissed anti-China and government-pressure rewrite rumors as the CBFC-certified 4-minute-43-second U/A 16+ trailer debuted.

Nov 06, 2026 - 11:57

0 5

Salman Khan’s war drama Maatrubhumi: May War Rest in Peace launched its official trailer in Mumbai on Friday, Nov. 6, 2026, with theatrical release confirmed for Dec. 4, 2026, according to The Indian Express, India Today and Pinkvilla. The Indian Express, in a Nov. 6 report by Gayatri Nirmal, said the film is based on the 2020–2021 China–India skirmishes, directed by Apoorva Lakhia and produced by Salman Khan Films. Variety India reported a Mumbai launch planned for Nov. 6 on Dhanteras; Times Now likewise placed the launch that day.

Trailer among the longest in Indian cinema

Variety India reported Nov. 5 that the trailer received Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) certification at 4 minutes and 43 seconds, among the longest trailers in Indian cinema history. The outlet compared that length with Ajay Devgn’s Singham Again trailer at 4 minutes 58 seconds and the first trailer of Ramayana: Part 1 at 4 minutes 15 seconds, and said the trailer carries a U/A 16+ certificate. Times Now reported the same certified runtime and rating, citing Variety India. Variety India also noted that Khan had released “Teri Sexy Beauty,” which he sings and which features Chitrangda Singh, as an earlier glimpse.

Release shifted from Nov. 20 to Dec. 4

India Today reported that Dec. 4 was announced at the Mumbai trailer launch , with sources saying CBFC and other clearances were secured. Hours before launch, the date moved from Nov. 20 to Dec. 4; posters still showing Nov. 20 were covered with black tape, India Today said. An India Today source said: “The team had a meeting a couple of days ago to finalise the release date, when they decided to have the trailer launch on Friday, just before Diwali. All publicity items were also ready. But just a couple of hours before they could go live with the trailer launch, there were certain unprecedented changes. The team had to act swiftly and make the changes not just on the trailer but also on the posters and banners. As of now, everyone is just hoping there are no other complications, and the film finally releases smoothly.”

Moneycontrol corroborated the last-minute Nov. 20-to-Dec. 4 change and the same India Today source quotation. Pinkvilla and The Indian Express reported Khan confirming Dec. 4 and earlier targets of January or June, then August, before Nov. 20.

Salman Khan rejects anti-China and rewrite rumors

The Indian Express reported that Khan said Maatrubhumi is not a biopic and that he “just wanted a film where there is man-on-man fight.” Addressing concern that the film would sour India-China relations, he used a Jackie Chan analogy dismissing the idea that either country’s army would attack over a film, per The Indian Express.

On government-pressure and script-rewrite reports, The Indian Express quoted Khan: “This narrative that we are going against China or our government has pressurised us into changing the script, rewrite it — all of this is baseless. It’s not true at all. We’ve made a film on soldiers, about what their families and the soldiers go through, on both sides. So, there are no negative forces in the film. It’s just the situations, they are negative.” Pinkvilla similarly reported the dismissal.

VFX work, injury delay and CBFC clearance

The Indian Express attributed the delay primarily to extensive visual effects, quoting Khan that the team did not want viewers to zoom in and criticize the VFX and wanted the film to “visually blow everyone’s mind.” Pinkvilla carried a similar VFX statement. The Indian Express also cited Chitrangda Singh’s injury and physiotherapy and a planned 45–50-day shoot.

On feature certification, The Indian Express quoted Khan thanking ministries and the CBFC, saying the board and other agencies “didn’t think anything was wrong with the film,” that it “has come out without any cuts,” and calling it “a noble film.” India Today wrote that an April release was postponed, with reports of reshoots after censor-board reluctance tied to the Indo-China context—framing India Today attributed to those earlier reports. Moneycontrol likewise noted the April hold and reshoot reports.

Title history, cast and other launch remarks

The Indian Express said the project was earlier called Battle of Galwan Valley and that Khan said the final title came from a song after that name was “casually written on the clapboard.” India Today linked the earlier Battle of Galwan title to the June 2020 Galwan Valley clash and reported that the confrontation claimed the lives of 20 Indian soldiers.

India Today reported that Khan plays Colonel Bikkumalla Santosh Babu of the 16 Bihar Regiment, posthumously awarded the Maha Vir Chakra, and listed Chitrangda Singh, Mukesh Rishi, Ankur Bhatia, Zeyn Shaw and Abhilash Chaudhary in the cast, with Vijay Raaz reportedly narrating. India Today also reported that authors Shiv Aroor and Rahul Singh (India’s Most Fearless) ended their association, saying the project had evolved beyond their Galwan account. The Indian Express quoted Khan saying expenses “don’t bother me at all” and that “this 150, 200, 300 doesn’t matter” if the product is strong. Pinkvilla reported that he praised Ranbir Kapoor’s Ramayana, dismissed Rs 4,000 crore budget talk for that project, and announced Rs 11 tickets for senior citizens above 75.