Why Salman Khan’s Maatrubhumi Is Stuck Before the CBFC

Salman Khan’s war drama Maatrubhumi: May War Rest in Peace has hit a regulatory pause before it has even reached the censor board. The film, based on the 2020 Galwan Valley clash, is waiting on a No Objection Certificate from the Ministry of Defence. Without that clearance, the makers cannot move ahead with the CBFC.

Why the MoD clearance comes first

For films, documentaries and web series based on the Indian Armed Forces, an MoD screening is part of the approval process. Maatrubhumi went through that screening in mid-2026. According to a Mid-Day report cited by The Times of India, the ministry had suggestions after the first viewing, and the team reshot portions of the film in response.

The changes were not cosmetic. Along with the reshoots, the film’s title was changed from Battle of Galwan to Maatrubhumi: May War Rest in Peace. The makers also revisited how the neighbouring country is portrayed and softened the overall tone.

• Title: Changed from Battle of Galwan to Maatrubhumi: May War Rest in Peace.
• Portrayal: The depiction of the neighbouring country was revised after feedback.
• Tone: The story’s tone was adjusted, with parts reshot.

The release date that cannot be locked

Earlier this month, Salman Khan, director Apoorva Lakhia and the team submitted the revised cut to the ministry. Since then, the report says, there has been silence from the MoD. Because Khan plays an Indian Army officer, the project has to follow the full approval chain before it can get a censor certificate.

That leaves the film in an unusual position: it cannot secure a release date even for next year until the NOC arrives. For Khan, it also means no solo release in 2026. His only appearances this year were cameos in Raja Shivaji and 7 Dogs.

What filmi fans should watch for

The next meaningful signal is not a poster or a trailer; it is the ministry’s response to the revised cut. Think of it as a two-step permission chain: the ministry reviews the sensitive details first, and only then can the CBFC process begin.

If the NOC comes through, the release conversation becomes real. Until then, any release date talk is premature, and fans are left waiting on an approval that is outside the makers’ hands.

Source: The Times of India