Salman Khan compared the protagonist of his upcoming film, Maatrubhumi: May War Rest in Peace, to Lord Ram. He shared these thoughts during the film’s trailer launch event in Mumbai, drawing parallels between the virtues of the mythological epic hero and his own character.
When asked if the immense buzz surrounding the newly released Ranbir Kapoor-starrer Ramayana would affect his film, Salman noted that the two shared deep character values. He explained that Lord Ram was defined by his multi-faceted role as the ideal son, husband, father, and warrior. According to Salman, the central hero in Maatrubhumi—which explores the heavy human cost of war—embodies these very same qualities.
During the same event, Salman strongly advocated that public discussions around Nitesh Tiwari’s Ramayana should focus on its timeless story rather than its massive scale. He expressed disagreement with the dominant narrative focusing on the reported ₹4,000 crore budget and heavy visual effects.
He stated in Hindi, “Ramayana ka charcha Ramayana pe hona chahiye na ki VFX and cost of production par” (“The discussion of Ramayana should be about Ramayana, not about VFX and the cost of production.”). He emphasized that the focus should strictly remain on the core characters of Ram, Sita, and Ravana.
The actor, who portrays Colonel Santosh Babu in the Apoorva Lakhia directorial, arrived at the trailer launch amid heavy security and posed for the paparazzi.
The mega-star arrived at the venue wearing a sleek black long-sleeve shirt, blue jeans, and sunglasses. He walked a designated promotional track lined with heavy security guards—including armed personal protection forces—before flashing his signature walk and posing for a massive gathering of paparazzi.
The makers officially showcased the footage, which surprised attendees with its unprecedented runtime. The trailer clocks in at a lengthy 4 minutes and 43 seconds. It was also revealed that the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) cleared the dynamic footage with a U/A 16+ certificate due to the realistic combat depiction.
While the film was previously targeting an early November arrival, it was confirmed at the event that minor delays in final VFX rendering have shifted the schedule. The producers revealed that they are locking in December 11, 2026, with all-India theatrical distribution handled by Jio Studios.
