Salman Khan’s ‘Maatrubhumi’ Faces Potential Delay to 2027 Due to Censor Issues; Star Could Have Two Releases Next Year
The release of Salman Khan’s highly anticipated military drama, Maatrubhumi, faces a strong possibility of being pushed to 2027, according to trade sources reported by Bollywood Hungama. Originally announced under the title Battle Of Galwan before being renamed earlier this year, the film is based on the 2020 border conflict between India and China.
Defense Ministry Reservations Cause Delays
The delay stems from geopolitical sensitivities. Due to a recent improvement in bilateral relations between India and China, the Ministry of Defence has expressed reservations regarding the film’s content and its explicit mentions of China. While the production team is actively working to resolve these issues to secure a release this year, a shift to the 2027 cinematic calendar is looking increasingly likely.
Salman Khan Avoids Box Office Clashes
Even if the censorship hurdles are cleared shortly, finding an optimal theatrical window in the remainder of the year presents a massive challenge. Most lucrative release dates are already locked in by other films.
A trade source highlighted Salman Khan’s unique industry ethic regarding competitive scheduling:
“In our industry, it is common for actors and filmmakers to take over a date that has already been claimed by another film. But Salman Khan is an exception. He is very fair and doesn’t believe in clashing with another film unnecessarily. Even if he decides to clash, he will inform the other party before making an announcement.”
Potential 2026 Window: The Dussehra Buffer
Industry insiders suggest that if the film manages a late 2026 release, the Dussehra period offers a lucrative five-day extended weekend slot:
Rajkummar Rao’s Raftaar is scheduled to release. Emraan Hashmi and Genelia Deshmukh’s Gunmaaster G9 is also eyeing this date, though an official announcement is pending.
Dussehra holiday. The day leading up to it typically acts as a major holiday, driving up box office collections. Nitesh Tiwari’s Ramayana is expected to be preponed to this date. If Maatrubhumi misses October, the weeks following Ramayana until the final week of November remain largely clear of major releases.
A Double Feature for Salman Khan Next Year?
If the clearance issues persist, Maatrubhumi will officially move to next year’s slate. This delay would set up a massive year for the superstar’s fans, giving Salman Khan two major releases next year.
Alongside Maatrubhumi, the actor is currently filming director Vamshi Paidipally’s untitled project, co-starring Nayanthara, which is already locked in for a theatrical arrival next year.
