Salman Khan on Monday announced that his upcoming Bollywood military drama, 'Battle of Galwan', has been renamed 'Maatrubhumi'. The movie now also carries the tagline, "May War Rest In Peace".
May War Rest In Peace #Maatrubhumi@LakhiaApoorva @IChitrangda #HimeshReshammiya #CchintanShah @SKFilmsOfficial @SKF_Music @ShamiraahN pic.twitter.com/8eE4VgNhAK
— Salman Khan (@BeingSalmanKhan) March 16, 2026
The much-anticipated film is based on the 2020 Galwan Valley clash between India and China and is directed by Apoorva Lakhia of 'Shootout at Lokhandwala'.
The actor did not provide any reason for the sudden change of title. The new title is likely inspired by the film's first track, "Maatrubhumi", sung by Arijit Singh.
"May War Rest In Peace. #Maatrubhumi," Salman wrote in the captions of the film's poster featuring the new title.
Salman Khan essays the role of Bikkumalla Santosh Babu, who laid down his life along with 19 other soldiers of the 16 Bihar Regiment during the clash, according to news agency PTI.
On Khan's 60th birthday in December last year, he shared the teaser of the film, which drew criticism from China's Global Times. The newspaper claimed the movie was a cinematic exaggeration and accused it of distorting facts.
A government source at the time said: "India has a tradition of cinematic expression. A movie titled Haqeeqat was made in 1964 and the theme was the India–China war of 1962. Another film, 120 Bahadur, was made recently on the legendary Battle of Rezang La. Cinema is an artistic expression and India does not restrict it."
The film is inspired by the military standoff in eastern Ladakh in May 2020. Clashes at the Galwan Valley in June that year resulted in a severe strain in ties between India and China. Twenty Indian Army personnel laid down their lives in the Galwan Valley clashes.
In February 2021, China officially acknowledged that five Chinese military officers and soldiers were killed in the clashes, though it is widely believed that the death toll on the Chinese side was much higher.
