Actor Salman Khan surprised fans on Monday with the announcement that his upcoming film Battle Of Galwan has been retitled Maatrubhumi. Speaking to us, director Apoorva Lakhia insists that the change was not sudden.

“It may feel sudden to SK sir’s fans, but it was never an overnight decision. From the start, we had registered both titles. As we went through the journey of making the film, we realised it was never just about a battle,” he says.

The film, co-starring Chitrangda Singh, is based on the 2020 conflict between India and China in the Galwan Valley. Its teaser courted controversy last month, when China’s state-backed media accused it of ‘distorting facts’.

Lakhia says that the new title reflects the emotional core of the story. “Its about humanity, empathy and the silent battles our soldiers fight. Maatrubhumi: May War Rest In Peace captures that emotion and sacrifice far more truthfully,” he says, adding, “There is a song in the film by the same name, and the love it has received from audiences made the title feel even more right.”