Mumbai, India, November 9, 2026 — Nepali actor Anoop Bikram Shahi has taken a major step into Indian cinema with his Bollywood debut in ‘Maatrubhumi: May War Rest in Peace’, starring alongside one of Hindi cinema’s biggest names, Salman Khan.
Shahi drew attention at the film’s trailer preview in Mumbai on Friday when he bent down to touch Khan’s feet before embracing him. The brief exchange, which took place as the cast gathered for photographs, has since attracted attention on social media.
For Shahi, the meeting carried personal significance. He has said that he grew up watching Khan’s films and still felt nervous while working with the actor he had admired for years. He now appears opposite Khan as a major in the Chinese army, marking his entry into Bollywood.
Director Apoorva Lakhia offered an account of how Shahi secured the part, saying that hundreds of actors from different parts of the world had auditioned for the role before the filmmakers selected him. The casting brings a Nepali performer into a high-profile Hindi film production.
Shahi is not new to the entertainment industry. He has built his career in Nepali cinema and television, with audiences recognising him from films including ‘Hasiya’, ‘Kri’ and ‘Bir Bikram’. He also gained television exposure through the reality show ‘Himalayan Roadies’. Before establishing himself as an actor, he was active in modelling and won the Manhunt International Nepal title in 2013. He later represented Nepal at the international competition in China.
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The actor has also spoken about his experience on the film’s sets in Ladakh. During breaks between scenes, Khan often asked him about Nepal and its culture, Shahi recalled. He said being part of the production gave him a sense of pride in representing Nepal on an international platform.
Previously titled ‘Battle of Galwan’, the war drama is directed by Lakhia and also features Chitrangada Singh. At the Mumbai event, Khan said the film looks at soldiers on both sides of the conflict as well as the experiences of their families.
The filmmakers have scheduled the film’s theatrical release for December 4, 2026. The date was moved from the previously planned November 20 as work on the visual effects was still in progress.
For Shahi, the film represents an opportunity to take his work beyond Nepal’s film industry. His role in a major Bollywood production also puts a Nepali actor before a wider international audience.