Turns out the internet got ahead of itself again.

Reports circulating since September 14 claimed Salman Khan's long-delayed war drama Maatrubhumi would be screened for the Central Board of Film Certification next week. That would have been the first real movement on a film that's been sitting in limbo since the start of the year. Except, according to a source who spoke to Bollywood Hungama, none of it is true.

"I wish these reports were true," the source said. "But with a heavy heart, I'd like to inform you that there has sadly been no update about its CBFC screening. The film is still stuck due to its China connection."

So the status quo holds. The makers, per the source, are still in talks with government officials trying to work out a resolution before the CBFC will even look at it. No timeline attached. "This may happen within a few days or weeks, or it may take more time," the source added. "But as of now, the status is the same as before."

Worth remembering how we got here. Maatrubhumi started life as Battle Of Galwan, built around the 2020 border clash between Indian and Chinese troops. It got its current title earlier this year, around the same time reports surfaced that the Ministry of Defence had concerns about how the film handles certain content. Bollywood Hungama reported in April that the word 'China' might not appear in the film at all, a story that ended up being one of the most talked-about pieces of film news this year. With ties between the two countries easing since, the sensitivities around a film built on that conflict haven't gone away.

There was a similar scare in July, when Bollywood Hungama reported the film could slip to 2027 entirely. That story went viral enough that the makers responded within days with a fresh poster reaffirming a 2026 release. Whether that promise survives depends entirely on how fast the China issue gets sorted.

Asked directly whether Maatrubhumi lands this year or next, the source didn't hedge much. "If it happens sooner, the makers will definitely try to bring out the film in theatres in 2026 itself, though there are not enough vacant slots available. Or else, it'll move to 2027."

That line about vacant slots matters. Even in the best case, where clearance comes through in the coming weeks, the makers still have to find room on a release calendar that's already crowded through the rest of 2026. A CBFC pass doesn't automatically mean a date.

For now, nothing has moved. No screening booked, no certificate issued, no resolution on the content questions that put the film here in the first place. The next real update, whenever it comes, will have to answer the only question that counts: has the China problem actually been fixed, or is this just another cycle of hope followed by another denial.