Salman Khan and Nepal’s Anoop Bikram Shahi Feature in ‘Maatrubhumi’ Trailer

KATHMANDU: Nepali actor Anoop Bikram Shahi features alongside Bollywood star Salman Khan in the trailer of ‘Matrubhumi: May War Rest in Peace’, a war drama inspired by the 2020 clash between Indian and Chinese troops in the Galwan Valley.

The trailer of the Salman Khan-starrer was released on Tuesday, offering the first detailed glimpse of the film’s story.

Directed by Apoorva Lakhia, the film features Salman as a soldier committed to his duty while also portraying him as a loving husband and responsible father.

Anoop Bikram Shahi has also been given considerable screen time in the trailer. The film marks his Bollywood debut. The opportunity to feature prominently in a film starring a Bollywood star of Salman’s stature is a significant milestone for the established Nepali actor.

What does the Maatrubhumi trailer show?

Running for 4 minutes and 35 seconds, the trailer opens with snow-covered landscapes of Eastern Ladakh before introducing Salman Khan as an officer of the 16 Bihar Regiment.

Despite his family’s concerns, he volunteers for military duty. He tries to reassure his wife, played by Chitrangada Singh, through humour.

During an emotional farewell to his young son, he tells him that soldiers do not say goodbye but salute. He also reminds his family that while their son has his mother to protect him, the motherland has her sons standing guard.

The trailer then introduces the central conflict, with Indian troops discovering Chinese forces setting up tents and a patrolling post across the border.

Salman’s character attempts to defuse the situation through dialogue. He tells his fellow soldiers that bravery is not always about fighting, but also about preventing war.

However, when the opposing troops outnumber the Indian patrol and ask them to retreat, he refuses to back down.

“We are soldiers, we are made for days like these,” he says.

The tension escalates into a fierce hand-to-hand confrontation. During the sequence, the dialogue “Ek Bihari, sau pe bhaari” (One Bihari is stronger than a hundred) invokes the fighting spirit of the 16 Bihar Regiment.

Alongside the action sequences, the trailer highlights the emotional cost of military duty through scenes involving Salman’s family and his wife’s concerns.

“Whenever you return home, bring back stories, not scars,” she tells him.

The trailer also questions the very idea of war. Salman’s character argues that if those who declare wars were made to fight alongside soldiers on the front lines, there would be no war.

The trailer ends with his message on humanity and patriotism:

“Humanity and patriotism are not about destroying the enemy, but about ending enmity.”