Fans of Salman Khan may have to wait a little longer to see him in uniform as the much-anticipated war drama Battle of Galwan is reportedly facing a release delay. Originally slated for April 17, 2026, recent reports suggest the film is now being aimed for an Independence Day 2026 release (August 14) due to unfinished shooting and mandatory regulatory hurdles.
Directed by Apoorva Lakhia, the film is a cinematic tribute to the 2020 Galwan Valley clash, with Salman portraying the real-life hero Colonel Bikkumalla Santosh Babu.
Why the Delay?
According to industry insiders, the decision to postpone is driven by a commitment to quality rather than a rush to meet a deadline.
- Ongoing Reshoots: A critical one-week schedule is set to commence on February 9 at the Golden Tobacco Factory in Mumbai. Additional patchwork is expected to continue until the end of February.
- Defence Ministry Screening: As the film deals with a sensitive, real-life military confrontation, it must be screened for the Ministry of Defence (MoD) for clearance—a process that can be time-consuming.
- Editing Complexity: Post-production, including VFX for the high-altitude combat scenes, requires significant time to ensure “appealing and cinematic” results.
The Movie at a Glance
| Feature | Details |
| Lead Role | Salman Khan as Colonel Bikkumalla Santosh Babu |
| Director | Apoorva Lakhia |
| Supporting Cast | Chitrangda Singh, Zeyn Shaw, Ankur Bhatia, Abhilash Chaudhary |
| Key Song | Maatrubhumi (featuring Arijit Singh’s final playback and Vajpayee’s poetry) |
| Original Release | April 17, 2026 |
| New Tentative Date | August 14, 2026 |
Teaser Controversy & Trolling
The project has already faced its share of spotlight. When the teaser was released on Salman’s birthday (December 27, 2025), it sparked a polarized response. While fans cheered his return to a serious role, some netizens trolled the actor for what they described as a “romantic expression” during a tense war sequence. Salman reportedly addressed these comments during a recent event, clarifying, “Yeh Colonel ka look hai” (This is a Colonel’s look), asking viewers to wait for the full context of the scene.
With Battle of Galwan potentially shifting to August, it may now clash at the box office with the Kartik Aaryan-starrer Naagzilla. However, for Salman, the priority remains honoring the 20 martyrs of the Galwan clash with a film that is “nurtured well.”