Updated November 6, 2026
Authors Shiv Aroor and Rahul Singh have ended their association with Salman Khan’s upcoming film Maatrubhumi: May War Rest in Peace. In a statement on November 5, they said the film had moved beyond the account of the Galwan Valley clash that first brought them into the project. Their announcement came as the film entered a new promotional phase, with its trailer expected on November 6.
How the authors became part of the film
Aroor and Singh co-authored India’s Most Fearless, a series of accounts about Indian military personnel. Their connection to the film began with a chapter on the 2020 Galwan incident. The project was initially called Battle of Galwan, a title that directly pointed to the clash in eastern Ladakh, before it was renamed Maatrubhumi: May War Rest in Peace.
In their joint statement, the authors said their involvement had come to a close because the film’s story had evolved beyond the account in their book. They thanked Khan, director Apoorva Lakhia and the team, and wished the production well. Their statement explained why they were stepping away but did not describe a dispute with the filmmakers or specify how the script changed.
The film’s scope has broadened beyond its original title
Lakhia has previously said that both titles were considered during the film’s development and that the story came to be framed around humanity and the experiences of soldiers, rather than only a single battle. Maatrubhumi stars Khan and Chitrangda Singh, with Khan playing Colonel B. Santosh Babu, the officer who led the 16 Bihar Regiment during the Galwan clash, according to The Hollywood Reporter India.
The authors’ departure and the title change are related to the project’s evolution, but the public statement does not establish the exact extent of any changes to the final film. Reports about reshoots and revisions have circulated separately; those claims have not been confirmed by the filmmakers in the authors’ statement.
Release plans remain provisional
In a November 6 report, Variety India said sources indicated a November 20 theatrical target and that the trailer was expected that day, while noting that an official release-date announcement was still awaited. The date should therefore be treated as a reported target, not a confirmed release. The trailer’s arrival would be the next major public look at how the film presents its story.
Sources: The Indian Express; The Hollywood Reporter India; Variety India.
Curated by KS Randhawa, Ludhiana Punjab
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