YouTuber Dhruv Rathee has sparked a fresh debate over Salman Khan’s upcoming film Maatrubhumi: May War Rest in Peace, alleging that political pressure led the filmmakers to reshoot parts of the project to present China in a more favourable light.
Rathee made the remarks at a press conference in New Delhi on October 11. A video of his comments subsequently circulated widely on social media, prompting reactions from viewers and Salman Khan fans. The film was originally announced under the title Battle of Galwan.
Rathee Questions the Government’s Position on China
Rathee claimed that the film’s earlier version contained material critical of China but that the government was reluctant to allow it to be released in that form. According to him, the filmmakers were asked to reshoot substantial portions and adopt a less confrontational portrayal of China.
He also criticised what he described as the government’s lack of firmness in dealing with powerful international actors, including China, the United States and entrepreneur Elon Musk. Rathee said he expresses his views independently through YouTube and is not affiliated with any political party.
His allegations have fuelled discussion on X, where some users questioned whether the film’s treatment of the Galwan clash had been altered. Others shared speculation about Salman Khan’s reported involvement and interest in the project.
However, the alleged political intervention and the extent of any reshoots have not been independently established. Rathee’s statements should therefore be treated as allegations rather than confirmed findings.
Film’s Title Change and Release Remain Under Scrutiny
The project centres on the 2020 confrontation between Indian and Chinese troops in the Galwan Valley, in which 20 Indian soldiers were killed. Its change of title from Battle of Galwan to Maatrubhumi: May War Rest in Peace has added to public interest in how the conflict will be depicted.
Reports have said the revised version received clearance from India’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. The film must still complete the applicable certification and release formalities, and its release date has not been officially confirmed. Some media reports have mentioned November 13 as a possible date, but that remains unconfirmed.
Director Apoorva Lakhia has reportedly described the film as more than a conventional war story, emphasising its themes of humanity and soldiers’ sacrifice. The project’s final portrayal of the conflict is likely to attract further attention as its release approaches.
Rathee Says His Detention Was a ‘Kidnapping’
The controversy over the film follows Rathee’s detention in Gurugram on October 10, ahead of a planned protest organised by the Cockroach Janta Party at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar. Police reportedly took him into custody after warning him against attending the demonstration, for which permission had not been granted. He was released later that night.
After his release, Rathee rejected the description of the incident as a lawful detention and called it a “kidnapping.” He later appeared at a press conference in New Delhi, where he discussed the incident and made his allegations about Salman Khan’s film.
The competing claims surrounding the film have brought renewed attention to the relationship between cinema, political sensitivities and the portrayal of India-China relations. For now, however, Rathee’s assertion that government pressure prompted the reshoots remains unverified.
