Salman Khan released the trailer of Maatrubhumi: May War Rest in Peace on social media on Tuesday, 10 November 2026. The actor shared the trailer with a playful caption that read, "Aaj release karoon ya kal? Jo kal kare so aaj kar, Jo aaj kare so ab. Enjoy the trailer."
The film is inspired by the 2020 Galwan Valley clash between Indian and Chinese troops, the confrontation along the Line of Actual Control on 15 June 2020. Salman plays Colonel Bikkumalla Santosh Babu, who led Indian troops during the confrontation. The film is directed by Apoorva Lakhia and also stars Chitrangda Singh.
Release date and cast
Maatrubhumi: May War Rest in Peace is scheduled to release in theatres on 4 December 2026. The film was earlier titled Battle of Galwan before the makers changed its title. The project faced multiple delays, with Salman Khan previously explaining that the team wanted to ensure the visual effects met its expectations, and that an injury to co-star Chitrangda Singh affected the filming schedule.
Besides Salman Khan and Chitrangda Singh, the film features Mukesh Rishi, Ankur Bhatia, Zeyn Shaw and Abhilash Chaudhary. Actor Vijay Raaz lends his voice as the narrator. The 2-minute 43-second trailer received a U/A 16+ certificate from the Central Board of Film Certification on 4 November.
The release was postponed from April 2026 amid the thaw in India-China ties. The new December date puts the film in theatres less than a month after the trailer launch, giving the makers a short window to build buzz around the release.
Not a biopic, says Salman
Salman clarified the film is not a biopic but an inspired story centred on soldiers, their families and the circumstances of the clash. He dismissed anti-China claims about the film as "bakwas" at the trailer launch, making clear the film's focus is on the soldiers rather than on politics.
The distinction matters for a film based on a real confrontation. By framing Maatrubhumi as an inspired story rather than a biopic, the makers have room to dramatise the events around Colonel Santosh Babu and his troops without claiming a literal retelling of every moment.
The trailer's release drew immediate attention, with the film's war-drama positioning and Salman's uniformed avatar at the centre of the response. With the release date now fixed, the film joins the December line-up as one of the month's biggest Hindi releases.
