Shiv Aroor and Rahul Singh end association with Salman Khan's Maatrubhumi

Authors step away

Defence journalists Shiv Aroor and Rahul Singh have announced that their formal association with Salman Khan's upcoming film Maatrubhumi, earlier titled Battle of Galwan, has come to an end. In a joint statement released on 5 November 2026, the co-authors of the India's Most Fearless book series said the film had evolved beyond the account of the 2020 Galwan Valley clash featured in their work.

The statement read: "Rahul Singh and I (Shiv Aroor) would like to share that our association with Maatrubhumi (earlier titled Battle of Galwan) has come to a close. As the film has evolved, it has moved beyond the account of the Galwan incident in our India's Most Fearless series that first brought us on board." The two journalists also thanked Salman Khan, director Apoorva Lakhia and the rest of the team, saying they were grateful for the opportunity to be part of the journey, held them in the highest regard, and wished them the very best.

From book chapter to film

Aroor and Singh's association with the film began with a chapter in India's Most Fearless 3, published in 2022, which documented the June 2020 clash between Indian and Chinese troops in the Galwan Valley. Director Apoorva Lakhia acquired the rights to the chapter in 2023, and Aroor was also credited for the film's story alongside Suresh Nair.

The film, titled Maatrubhumi: May War Rest in Peace, is based on the deadly hand-to-hand confrontation in which Colonel Bikumalla Santosh Babu, portrayed by Salman Khan, and 19 other Indian soldiers lost their lives. At the time of the title change, Lakhia explained that the film was never just about a battle, and that at its heart it was about humanity, empathy, and the silent battles soldiers fight.

Separately, YouTuber Dhruv Rathee had claimed during a press conference in Delhi that the makers were asked to reshoot several sequences to portray China favourably, following reports alleging major reshoots. Sources close to the producers called these reports baseless, and a source told SCREEN that the film had not changed at all and was being made exactly as planned. These claims about reshoots remain disputed and were not part of the authors' statement.

Trailer and release plans

The development comes as the film prepares for its next promotional phase. Its 4-minute-and-43-second trailer received a U/A 16+ certificate from the Central Board of Film Certification on 4 November, and the trailer is expected to be unveiled on 6 November.

The film's theatrical release date remains unconfirmed, with 20 November and 11 December reportedly under consideration. The Indian Express reported that the trailer would be launched on Friday, 6 November, a day after the authors' announcement.

Editorial disclosure

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