Salman Khan’s Maatrubhumi Won’t Release On OTT First; Makers Stick To Theatrical Release Commitment

The Salman Khan film Maatrubhumi is no longer arriving on 17 April 2026 as planned. The release has been pushed back, and a fresh date is still pending from the makers. Industry chatter hints at a possible May launch or an Independence Day weekend slot, but nothing has been officially locked yet.

Despite the delay, the team is said to be firm about a theatrical rollout for Maatrubhumi. A report on Bollywood Hungama states that the film will not skip cinemas for a direct streaming premiere. According to the portal, the creative team remains focused on a big-screen release once all pending issues are addressed.

Maatrubhumi release: Defence Ministry advice and requested changes

Earlier, Bollywood Hungama reported that the Ministry of Defence had reviewed Maatrubhumi and suggested alterations. As per that report, officials asked the makers to make certain changes to the film. The ministry also requested that China not be mentioned in the narrative. These inputs are believed to be among the reasons for the hold-up.

While such interventions are not unusual for films dealing with sensitive subjects, they can slow timelines. The creative team has not publicly detailed how these requested edits affect specific scenes or characters. Any revision will still need to retain the story that Salman Khan and director Apoorva Lakhia planned for cinemas.

Maatrubhumi release: Clarification on OTT rumours and censorship rules

During this period of uncertainty, speculation on social media has grown around Maatrubhumi. Some users claimed that the producers might bypass theatres and opt for a straight-to-OTT release. The assumption was that an online premiere would avoid scrutiny from censors and ease the film’s path to audiences.

An industry insider, quoted by Bollywood Hungama, pushed back against that belief and called it a misunderstanding. The insider said many people think streaming films do not face any checks, which is incorrect. The insider added, "However, that's not how it works. Every film that releases directly on streaming platforms also goes through the certification process, just like any theatrical film. So, even for a direct-to-OTT premiere, the government must clear the film before it can be presented to the public."

Maatrubhumi release: Salman Khan’s big-screen plans and public silence

Another source, speaking to the same portal, stressed Salman Khan’s focus on cinemas for this project. The source stated, "Salman continues to be a mega star, and he has mounted Maatrubhumi on a grand scale. It's a film for the big screen and hence, he and director Apoorva Lakhia are committed to releasing the film theatrically once the issues surrounding the film are resolved." This aligns with reports about the large-scale production design.

Fans of Salman Khan have followed every update, as the film is among the year’s most discussed titles. Concerns over the delay and the OTT chatter have added to the curiosity around Maatrubhumi. Yet, neither Salman nor Apoorva Lakhia has commented publicly on the postponement, the Ministry of Defence suggestions, or the release route, leaving audiences waiting for an official statement and a final confirmed date.