If A Problem Can Be Solved At The Table, Why Go To War?

The actor, who fielded questions on the film’s subject, its delayed release, visual effects and the speculation surrounding its storyline, said ‘Maatrubhumi’ is not a biopic or a film directed against any particular country. Instead, it looks at soldiers, their families and the circumstances they find themselves in.

“This is not a biopic at all. The film was inspired by something my father once told me. He said, ‘When you are in a war and a bullet reaches its target, it reaches a mother’s heart.’ I didn’t want to make a film that focused only on that aspect. I wanted to make a straightforward film about soldiers, their lives and the circumstances they face. At the end of the day, it is about man-to-man combat and the larger human story behind it,” he said.

Addressing speculation that the film was about a conflict with China, or that the government or defence ministry had asked the makers to rewrite the script, Salman dismissed the claims. “No, none of that is true. We have made a film about soldiers and their families, what the soldiers go through and what their families experience on both sides. There are no negative forces in the film. The circumstances are negative.”

He added that while soldiers may have feelings for one another, their duty to their respective countries takes precedence when a conflict arises. Drawing a distinction between cinema and real life, he said a film made by an actor from another country should not be interpreted as a reason for hostility between nations. “Cinema and reality are two different things,” he said.

The film, which was earlier titled ‘Battle of Galwan’, has been in the news for its changing release schedule. Salman said the delay was largely because the team wanted to get the visual effects right, particularly since the film was shot in Ladakh and combines actual locations with VFX.

“The main reason was the VFX. Today, audiences are very knowledgeable about VFX. We didn’t want anyone to watch the film and immediately point out, ‘This is VFX.’ We shot in Ladakh, so there is a lot of real material, but we wanted the visual effects to blend seamlessly with the actual locations,” he said.

The original plan was to complete the shoot in about 45 to 50 days, but the schedule kept shifting. The team eventually settled on December 4 as the release date, although Salman clarified that the date could move again if the work was not ready.

“The date is moving because of us. Our VFX work is still being completed. There is no other person or agency responsible for the delay. We simply want the best possible version of the film to come out so that the fans can enjoy it,” he said.

He also addressed the narrative that the film had faced objections from the censor board and other government agencies. According to him, the film was cleared without cuts. “There was a wrong narrative around the film. But when the censor board and the other agencies watched it, they did not find anything wrong with the film. The film has come out without any cuts. So, I would like to thank all the ministries and the censor board,” he said.

Salman said the repeated delays had also raised concerns about whether audiences would retain their interest in the film. However, he felt the work put in by the crew, particularly those who had worked in the cold, made it important to bring the film to the audience. He described it as a beautiful and noble story and said the trailer would give viewers an idea of the effort that had gone into making it.

Asked about the film’s budget and the additional costs that may have come with the delays, the actor said the final product mattered more to him than the expenditure. “As long as the product is good and people like it, that’s what matters to me. Whether it costs ₹150 crore, ₹200 crore or ₹300 crore, it doesn’t matter. Those are our expenses, not yours,” he said.

The film’s title was also changed from ‘Battle of Galwan’ to ‘Maatrubhumi’. Salman said the original title was never what the team had in mind and that they eventually found a more suitable name through one of the songs in the film.

On whether a film about soldiers and war would also have music and lighter moments, he said soldiers should not be seen only through the lens of their duty. “Of course. Soldiers are human beings too. They don’t always sing serious patriotic songs. Sometimes they will listen to or dance to songs like ‘Kala Chashma’. Those things happen in their lives as well. But the situation in our film is different. The songs and music are part of the larger world of the film.”

He said the film’s emotional core was as important as its action and other elements. “The entire film is built around emotion. When you watch it, you will have tears of joy in your eyes.” He added that the film brings together humour, songs, comedy, struggle and action, but the emotional quotient is on another level.

The actor also spoke about taking up different kinds of roles at this stage of his career, saying he would be open to a simpler family drama if he liked the subject. Recalling ‘Tubelight’, he said he had personally liked the film, even if audiences may not have been able to see him in that kind of role. He also referred to ‘Tere Naam’ as an example of a film that took him in a different direction.

Asked how he handles the pressures of life and work, Salman responded with his characteristic humour: “I give the pressure of life to other people; I don’t take it myself!” He added that difficult days were part of the process and that one had to keep moving forward. “After the day comes night, and after night comes morning. That’s life.”

He was also asked whether he would consider playing Lord Ram if given the opportunity. Salman recalled that a project along those lines had been planned around 20 years ago, with him and his brother expected to play Ram and Lakshman. The film was announced at the time but was eventually shelved.

For now, with ‘Maatrubhumi’, Salman said he wanted audiences to see the story beyond the speculation around its subject and production. At its heart, he said, the film is about soldiers, their families and the consequences of conflict, with a message that puts dialogue ahead of war.

‘Maatrubhumi’ is directed by Apoorva Lakhia and produced under Salman Khan Films banner with Salman and Chitrangda Singh in lead roles.