Dhruv Rathee claims Salman Khan's Maatrubhumi was reshot to soften China portrayal

YouTuber Dhruv Rathee has alleged that political pressure is affecting the release of Salman Khan’s upcoming film Maatrubhumi: May War Rest in Peace, which was originally titled Battle of Galwan. Rathee claimed that the film underwent reshoots because the government did not want the makers to portray China negatively.A clip of Rathee discussing the film during a recent press conference in Delhi on October 11 has gone viral on social media, drawing reactions from users and Salman Khan fans.Speaking about the film, Rathee alleged that the government was reluctant to allow a film critical of China to be released in its original form. He claimed that the makers were asked to reshoot portions and present China in a more favourable light."Ek film aa rahi thi Salman Khan ki, jismein China ke khilaaf kuch cheezein thi. Aur sarkaar ki itni himmat nahi ho rahi ki us film ko release hone de (There was a Salman Khan film that had some things against China. The government didn’t have the courage to allow the film to be released)," he said. "Salman Khan ki film ki poori reshooting karwai gayi aur ye kaha gaya, ‘Nahi, nahi, isko China ke favour mein karo. Hum uske itne against nahi ja sakte’ (The entire film was reshot, and they were told, ‘No, no, make it favourable to China. We cannot go so strongly against them')," Rathee added.Dhruv Rathee in his latest press conference on #SalmanKhan's next film #Maatrubhumi, originally titled (Battle of Galwan) controversy: Under Modi even cinema faces political pressure. https://t.co/kYSvRvnK8U— P (@ibeingxpasha_) October 11, 2026Rathee went on to accuse the government of being afraid of China, the United States and Elon Musk. He contrasted this with his own position, saying he was an individual who openly expressed his views on YouTube and was not connected to any political group.Social media reacts to Dhruv Rathee’s remarks Rathee’s comments prompted a debate on X, with some users agreeing with his allegations about the film while others shared their views on the reported changes.One user, responding to the clip, wrote, "Matlab wo hamare jawan bhi maar diye aur hum china bhi mention nhi kar sakte (I mean, they killed our soldiers, and we can’t even mention China)."Another user agreed with Rathee’s assessment and wrote, "Exactly that was the issue, that’s why Salman Khan lost interest in the movie."A Salman Khan fan page also shared the video, writing, "Well, even if not Salman Khan, at least Dhruv Rathee spoke up correctly about the film #Maatrubhoomi."The remarks have brought renewed attention to the film’s delay, change of title from Battle of Galwan to Maatrubhumi and the discussion around its portrayal of the India-China conflict.About Salman Khan’s MaatrubhumiMaatrubhumi: May War Rest in Peace, starring Salman Khan, was earlier announced as Battle of Galwan. The film is based on the 2020 Galwan Valley clash between Indian and Chinese troops, which resulted in the deaths of 20 Indian Army personnel. The change in title has drawn attention as audiences await further details about the film and its release.About Dhruv Rathee's detentionRathee was detained by Delhi Police at his residence in Gurugram on Saturday, October 10, ahead of his expected participation in the Cockroach Janta Party’s (CJP) proposed ‘Jantar Mantar 2.0’ protest in Delhi. He was released around 3 am on Sunday, October 11, according to sources in the Gurugram Police.The YouTuber addressed his first-ever press conference in New Delhi on Sunday evening after meeting Senior Advocate and Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal. Speaking about his recent apprehension by police from his Gurugram residence, Rathee described the incident as an “abduction” rather than a legal detention.- Ends