Salman Khan and Chitrangda Singh’s upcoming war drama MaatruBhumi: May War Rest in Peace , earlier titled Battle Of Galwan, has been in the news for multiple reasons. From its title change and delayed release — pushed from April to August — to the social media trolling faced by Salman following the teaser release, the film has sparked widespread discussion. Many users criticized his “intense glance” in a war scene, which quickly went viral.

Directed by Apoorva Lakhia, the film draws inspiration from the real-life confrontation on June 15, 2020, when Indian soldiers clashed with Chinese troops in the Galwan Valley along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

Speculation is rife that the title change was made to shift the film’s tone from a purely military lens to a broader emotional narrative, possibly keeping diplomatic sensitivities in mind. Reports suggest that the revised title and related reshoots aim to focus more on the human cost of war, peace and patriotism. The director also said that the film goes beyond just a battle, which prompted the change.

When we met Chitrangda Singh at the Bombay Times Fashion Week, she said, “There are certain things where you must be cognizant of other situations and opinions. The makers thought it through and decided to go with the new title, which I am sure is in the film’s best interest.”

She added, “MaatruBhumi resonates with the times we live in. People are connecting deeply with ideas of life, death and nationalism. Across the world, there is a growing awareness of how important it is to fight for what belongs to you. We often take freedom for granted, but these testing times have made us realize its true value.”

The actress didn’t mince her words while defending her co-star. She said, “Salman has his own way of focusing on his work. He puts in a lot of effort, not just into his own performance, but into every character and the film as a whole. It’s sad that he gets trolled based on people’s perceptions of him. I went into the film with a certain perception too, but that changed.”

She continued, “He is someone people constantly talk about — good, bad or ugly. He gets written about no matter what he does. In many ways, he becomes the clickbait, and he deserves better than that.”