Salman Khan’s Maatrubhumi Still Awaiting CBFC Screening as November 13 Release Window Hangs in Balance

Salman Khan’s much-discussed war drama Maatrubhumi is still waiting for its censor screening, even though the film has reportedly received clearance from the government. According to a Bollywood Hungama report published on October 27, 2026, the makers applied for certification from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) at the beginning of October, but the board has not yet given them a date for the screening.

The report adds that a screening was assured for Monday, October 26, but it did not take place. Salman Khan has since flown to Delhi a few times to request the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to facilitate the screening, trade sources told the publication. The actor is not asking for any special favour, the source said — he has made the changes the ministry wanted and followed all the rules while applying for certification, and he wants the CBFC to view the film at the earliest because he aims to bring it to cinemas next month.

Maatrubhumi was initially announced as Battle of Galwan before being rechristened earlier this year. Directed by Apoorva Lakhia, the film is based on the 2020 conflict between India and China in the Galwan Valley, and it reportedly encountered hurdles over its content and references to China, especially in light of improving diplomatic relations between the two countries.

The November 13 date is not accidental. According to the report, Salman Khan is keen on that slot because no other film has taken it, and he does not believe in clashes. Yeh Prem Mol Liya and Gunmaaster G9 are scheduled for November 27, and Salman wants Maatrubhumi out two weeks earlier so all three films can do well. He has ruled out November 20, and, out of respect for Sooraj Barjatya, will not clash with Yeh Prem Mol Liya. December 4 was considered but dropped because Jio Studios, which is distributing Maatrubhumi, is also releasing Shraddha Kapoor’s Eetha that day.

Filmverse analysis: This is a useful reminder that a film’s release date is rarely just a marketing choice. For Maatrubhumi, the calendar is doing the work of diplomacy — every date avoided is a relationship protected, whether with a fellow producer, a distributor or a ministry. Salman Khan’s insistence on a clear window also tells us something about how star-driven Hindi cinema now treats the box office: a solo release is worth more than a headline clash, because a film built on a sensitive real-life conflict cannot afford to split either screens or conversation.

Source: Bollywood Hungama