Salman Khan's highly anticipated film seems to barely escape one controversy before getting entangled in another. Directed by Apoorva Lakhia, this war drama first saw a change in its release date. Subsequently, reports surfaced claiming that scenes directly referencing China had been removed from *Maatrubhumi*, and that the filmmakers had reshot approximately 40 percent of the movie.

Meanwhile, rumors have been circulating rapidly over the past few days that the makers intend to bypass a theatrical release and bring the film directly to OTT platforms instead. Will *Bhaijaan's* big-budget film truly be released on an OTT platform? Let's uncover the full truth behind these reports.

Will the Makers Be Forced to Release *Maatrubhumi* on OTT?
In fact, the Ministry of Defence had requested that the narrative be slightly altered to avoid making direct references to China within the film. While the filmmakers did not completely rewrite the entire story, they have now shifted its primary focus away from the war itself and placed a greater emphasis on relationships and family dynamics. The movie still retains some war sequences, but the central storyline involving China and Galwan has been sidelined.

Now that the filmmakers have fundamentally altered the film's core theme, rumors began to circulate that they might opt ​​to release Salman's *Maatrubhumi* directly on OTT platforms rather than in theaters. However, according to a report by *Bollywood Hungama*, all reports suggesting that *Maatrubhumi* will head directly to OTT are entirely baseless. Films Released on OTT Platforms Are Also Subject to Censorship
A source close to the film revealed, "Salman Khan is a megastar, and his film *Matrubhoomi* has been produced on a massive scale. This film is designed specifically for the big screen. As soon as all issues associated with the project are resolved, director Apoorva Lakhia will bring the movie to theaters." Further clarifying the matter, sources connected to Salman Khan's *Matrubhoomi* added:

"Many people harbor the misconception that there is no censorship on OTT platforms. They assume that if Salman bypasses theatrical distribution and releases his film directly on OTT, he will face no hurdles. However, that is absolutely not the case. Any film released directly on a streaming platform must also undergo the certification process—the same procedure required for films released in cinemas. Therefore, even if this film were to be released directly on OTT, obtaining government approval would still be mandatory before it could be presented to the general public."

It is worth noting that the filmmakers originally intended to release *Matrubhoomi* in April 2026; however, due to significant pending work and necessary reshoots, the release date had to be postponed. It is now anticipated that, following all requisite modifications and clearance from the Censor Board, the film could hit theaters in May 2026.

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