Salman Khan Films has officially shut down widespread internet rumors claiming their highly anticipated war drama, Maatrubhumi: May War Rest In Peace, is locked in a battle with the Central Board of Film Certification. The production banner released a firm statement on Instagram on July 4, categorically labeling the censorship reports as false and entirely baseless. You can’t face certification delays if you haven’t actually submitted the movie yet, which is exactly the technicality the studio pointed out.
The timeline for the ambitious Apoorva Lakhia directorial project remains intact. The makers appealed directly to media outlets to stop amplifying unverified claims, explicitly stating that all legitimate updates regarding the release schedule will come exclusively from their authorized channels. Salman Khan Films is simply attempting to keep the focus on the screen, denying any current CBFC hurdles in their official Instagram statement.
The film stars Salman Khan as Col. Bikkumalla Santosh Babu, stepping into the real-world history of the June 2020 military standoff between Indian and Chinese troops in eastern Ladakh. The narrative tracks the events of the Galwan Valley clash, where Col. Babu and 19 other soldiers from the 16 Bihar Regiment were killed in action. Babu was posthumously awarded the Maha Vir Chakra, India’s second-highest wartime gallantry honor. The production is eyeing a prime August 15 Independence Day weekend release, according to The Telegraph, following an extended 40-day reshoot period that previously bumped the title from an April 17 window.
Maatrubhumi—originally titled Battle of Galwan before Lakhia shifted the name to emphasize the empathy and silent battles of soldiers—has already dealt with a complex geopolitical spotlight. When the initial teaser dropped earlier this year, it triggered immediate friction across the border. Users on the Chinese social platform Weibo heavily criticized the project for alleged misrepresentation. The noise grew loud enough that India’s Ministry of External Affairs publicly distanced itself from separate rumors suggesting the government had intervened or objected to the film’s production. With the official denial now on record, the studio is moving forward with their summer release strategy.