Maatrubhumi Trailer Out: Salman Khan’s Galwan War Film
After months of waiting, a media-only screening and a trailer that was ready but held back, Salman Khan has finally given fans the news they were waiting for. The Maatrubhumi trailer is releasing online this evening, Tuesday, November 10, 2026 — and the film itself is now locked for a theatrical release on Friday, December 4, 2026.
Salman confirmed the trailer drop himself on X, writing: “Trailer releasing this evening, Thank u for being patient. #MaatrubhumiTrailer.” It ended days of uncertainty that began when the trailer was screened for the media in Mumbai on November 6 but not released to the public. Here is everything we know about the Maatrubhumi trailer, the film’s release date, its cast, and the real-life story behind it.
Maatrubhumi Trailer Release: What We Know So Far
The Maatrubhumi trailer arrives online this evening, November 10, 2026. Salman Khan announced it on his official X account earlier today, and the announcement was quickly picked up by trade outlets including Sacnilk, Moneycontrol and Filmibeat. No exact time has been officially announced, so fans should keep an eye on Salman Khan Films’ official channels through the evening. Some reports have suggested the trailer could arrive between 7 and 8 PM IST, but that timing has not been confirmed by the makers and should be treated as speculation for now.
The trailer itself is a substantial one. It runs 4 minutes and 43 seconds, which is long by the standards of a theatrical trailer and suggests the makers want to give audiences a proper sense of the film’s scale rather than a quick teaser-style cut. It was certified by the Central Board of Film Certification on November 4 with a U/A 16+ rating, and trade reports say it passed without any cuts.
The trailer was first shown to the media at a launch event in Mumbai on November 6, four days before its public release. Salman addressed the delay at the launch itself, explaining that the film’s VFX work was still unfinished and that the VFX company “had to face a little bit of (delay)”. In other words, the trailer was held back because the visual effects were not yet ready to be shown to the world — not because of any last-minute change of plan.
Maatrubhumi Release Date: December 4, 2026
Maatrubhumi: May War Rest in Peace will release in theatres on Friday, December 4, 2026. The date was confirmed by Salman Khan at the trailer launch and appears on the film’s new poster. December 4 is now a head-on box office clash — more on that below.
The road to December 4 has not been smooth. The film was originally planned for an earlier release in 2026, but the date was pushed back more than once. At the November 6 launch event, the date flashed on screen was November 20, before the makers settled on December 4. Trade reports have pointed to a combination of reasons for the delays: unfinished VFX work, an injury to leading lady Chitrangda Singh during the shoot, and political sensitivities around a film based on a recent and still-sensitive military incident.
December 4 now gives the film a clear four-week runway after tonight’s trailer launch, with advance bookings expected to open in the final week of November.
The Story: Inspired by the Galwan Valley Clash of June 2020
Maatrubhumi is inspired by the June 2020 Galwan Valley clash between Indian and Chinese troops in eastern Ladakh, a major military confrontation on the India-China border. Salman Khan plays Colonel Bikkumalla Santosh Babu, the commanding officer of the 16 Bihar Regiment, who was posthumously awarded the Maha Vir Chakra, India’s second-highest wartime gallantry award, for his leadership during the clash.
Salman has been careful to clarify one important point: Maatrubhumi is not a biopic. The film draws its inspiration from the Galwan Valley clash and from Colonel Santosh Babu’s story, but it is a dramatised war film rather than a straight retelling of one man’s life.
The film’s title itself carries its message. “Maatrubhumi” means “motherland”, and the tagline — “May War Rest in Peace” — makes the film’s intent clear. This is not being sold as a chest-thumping war film. The title was chosen, according to reports around the retitle, to suggest a message of peace rather than one of war — a film about soldiers and sacrifice that ends with a plea, not a battle cry.
Maatrubhumi Cast and Crew
Salman Khan leads the film as Colonel Santosh Babu, in one of the most demanding roles of his career — a real-life soldier carrying the weight of a national hero’s legacy. Opposite him, Chitrangda Singh plays the female lead. The supporting cast includes Mukesh Rishi, Ankur Bhatia, Zeyn Shaw and Abhilash Chaudhary.
Behind the camera, the film is directed by Apoorva Lakhia, known for films such as Shootout at Lokhandwala and Haseena Parkar. It is produced by Salman Khan Films, with Salma Khan producing, and presented with Jio Studios. The music is composed by Himesh Reshammiya.
| Detail | Maatrubhumi: May War Rest in Peace |
|---|---|
| Theatrical release | Friday, December 4, 2026 |
| Trailer release | Tuesday, November 10, 2026 (evening, online) |
| Trailer runtime | 4 minutes 43 seconds |
| CBFC certificate | U/A 16+ (passed without cuts, per trade reports) |
| Director | Apoorva Lakhia |
| Lead cast | Salman Khan as Colonel Bikkumalla Santosh Babu; Chitrangda Singh |
| Supporting cast | Mukesh Rishi, Ankur Bhatia, Zeyn Shaw, Abhilash Chaudhary |
| Production | Salman Khan Films (producer Salma Khan), presented with Jio Studios |
| Music | Himesh Reshammiya |
| Inspired by | The June 2020 Galwan Valley clash; 16 Bihar Regiment |
From Battle of Galwan to Maatrubhumi: Why the Title Changed
When the film was first announced, it was widely referred to as “Battle of Galwan”. That title appeared on early reports and even on the film’s clapboard. But Salman Khan has since clarified that “Battle of Galwan” was never the confirmed title — it was only ever used for the clap, the ceremonial first shot of the film. The official title, announced earlier this year alongside the first poster, is Maatrubhumi: May War Rest in Peace.
The change is more than cosmetic. “Battle of Galwan” promised a war film; “Maatrubhumi” promises a film about the land, the soldiers who defend it, and the cost of conflict.
Why the Trailer Took So Long
For a film of this scale, the wait for the trailer has been unusually long — and unusually public. The trailer was screened for the media on November 6, which meant journalists had seen it while the public had not. That four-day gap created a sense that something might be wrong. Salman’s explanation at the launch put that to rest: the VFX work was unfinished, and the makers did not want to release a trailer with incomplete effects.
It is a decision that says something about how seriously the team is taking the film’s visuals. Maatrubhumi is set in the high-altitude terrain of Ladakh, where the Galwan Valley clash took place in brutal conditions — freezing temperatures, rocky river valleys, hand-to-hand combat at over 14,000 feet. Recreating that on screen depends heavily on visual effects, and releasing a trailer with unfinished VFX would have done the film more harm than good.
December 4 Box Office Clash: Maatrubhumi vs Eetha
December 4, 2026 is now one of the most interesting box office clashes of the year. Maatrubhumi will open on the same day as Eetha, the Shraddha Kapoor-starring period biographical drama directed by Laxman Utekar and produced by Maddock Films. Eetha is based on the life of Vithabai Bhau Mang Narayangaonkar, one of Maharashtra’s most celebrated Lavani and Tamasha performers, and it had locked December 4 first — its trailer released on October 30.
The clash is a genuine one, and it is already shaping up to be a story in itself. Eetha was originally scheduled for August 28, 2026, but was moved to December to avoid a clash with other big releases. It then lost its solo December 4 window when Salman confirmed Maatrubhumi for the same day. Behind the scenes, the distribution battle is just as notable: Jio Studios is presenting Maatrubhumi, while PVR INOX Pictures has taken over all-India distribution of Eetha in a reported Rs 80–90 crore deal after Jio Studios exited that film.
What makes the clash fascinating is how different the two films are. Maatrubhumi is a war drama led by one of Bollywood’s biggest stars, aimed squarely at the mass single-screen and multiplex audience. Eetha is a female-led period biographical drama, a prestige project built around a transformative performance by Shraddha Kapoor. They will compete for screens, for shows and for audience attention — but they are chasing different viewers, and trade watchers have noted that December 4 may have room for both.
What to Expect From the Trailer Tonight
Based on what is already known, the trailer should answer the questions fans have been asking since the first poster dropped. The biggest one is tone: will Maatrubhumi play as a full-scale war epic, or as the more reflective, message-driven film its title suggests? The 4-minute-43-second runtime gives the makers room to do both.
Fans will also be watching for Salman’s transformation. The poster shows him bloodied and battle-worn, a long way from the star’s usual larger-than-life screen image, and the trailer will show whether that gritty look carries through the full film.
Every Salman Khan release is an event, but Maatrubhumi carries a different kind of weight. It is a film about a real hero, a real regiment and a real incident that is still within living memory for the families involved. The U/A 16+ certification suggests the combat in Maatrubhumi is intense, and the trailer tonight will be the first indication of how the film walks the line between spectacle and respect. The trailer drops this evening, the film arrives on December 4, 2026, and the December box office battle — Maatrubhumi vs Eetha — is officially on. We will update this article with the trailer link as soon as it is out.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the Maatrubhumi trailer releasing?
The Maatrubhumi trailer is releasing online on the evening of Tuesday, November 10, 2026. Salman Khan confirmed it on his official X account, writing: “Trailer releasing this evening, Thank u for being patient. #MaatrubhumiTrailer.” No exact time has been officially announced.
When is Maatrubhumi releasing in theatres?
Maatrubhumi: May War Rest in Peace releases in theatres on Friday, December 4, 2026. The date was confirmed by Salman Khan at the November 6 trailer launch, after the film was moved from November 20.
Who does Salman Khan play in Maatrubhumi?
Salman Khan plays Colonel Bikkumalla Santosh Babu, the commanding officer of the 16 Bihar Regiment, who was posthumously awarded the Maha Vir Chakra for his leadership during the June 2020 Galwan Valley clash. Salman has clarified the film is inspired by the incident and is not a biopic.
Who is in the cast of Maatrubhumi?
Alongside Salman Khan, the film stars Chitrangda Singh in the female lead, with Mukesh Rishi, Ankur Bhatia, Zeyn Shaw and Abhilash Chaudhary in supporting roles. It is directed by Apoorva Lakhia, produced by Salman Khan Films with Salma Khan producing, and the music is by Himesh Reshammiya.
Is Maatrubhumi clashing with Eetha at the box office?
Yes. Both Maatrubhumi and Eetha — Shraddha Kapoor’s period biographical drama directed by Laxman Utekar — release in theatres on Friday, December 4, 2026. Eetha had locked the date first; Maatrubhumi moved onto the same day.
Stay tuned to DevLatPlay for the Maatrubhumi trailer link the moment it drops, and for our full coverage of the film as December 4 approaches. If you are tracking the biggest releases of the season, also read our coverage of the Ramayana box office run, Shah Rukh Khan’s King, and Rajinikanth’s Jailer 2 OTT release.
