Lesser known facts about Ek Tha Tiger ahead of its re-release
The suspenseful spy romance thriller Ek Tha Tiger was directed by Kabir Khan. Salman Khan plays Tiger in the film, a RAW agent who becomes the target of their own agencies after falling in love with Zoya (Katrina Kaif), a Pakistani ISI agent, while on a mission in Dublin.
Originally not meant for Salman Khan The lead role of the film was first offered to Hrithik Roshan and Shah Rukh Khan, but the two actors turned the offer down due to date issues which then went to Salman Khan for being the cast in the iconic role. The film was also Salman’s first project as a solo hero with Yash Raj Films.
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Dedicated to a real-life RAW agent The movie was dedicated to the late Indian RAW agent Ravindra Kaushik, who was also known by the code name 'Black Tiger,' according to director Kabir Khan. His life story served as the original inspiration, even though the movie's climax was altered for aesthetic reasons.
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Security concerns during the shoot in Turkey Turkish snipers mistook the crew's gunshots for hostile activity while they were filming a high-energy action scene close to the Turkey-Syria-Iraq border. Salman Khan including the rest of the unit were forced to lie down at gunpoint for a couple of minutes until the local authorities could tell the NATO forces that it was just a movie shooting.
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Katrina Kaif performed her own stunts Katrina Kaif, who played a Pakistani spy, did her own action scenes in the movie. She underwent extensive training to make her scenes appear realistic and powerful because this was a new level of action for her.
First Indian film to be shot in Cuba Shooting in Cuba, a stunning but challenging-to-reach place, presented a major logistical challenge for the Ek Tha Tiger crew. To capture its distinct look and feel, the effort was deemed well worth it, and it was the first time a Bollywood movie had a shoot schedule in the nation.
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Action designed by international experts Director Kabir Khan hired stunt directors from 14 different countries to achieve the high energy action scenes. This gave the film a different and aesthetic look making it stand out from other film in the industry setting new standard for the genre.
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The film teaser crashed the YRF server Fans and industry insiders responded to the first teaser for Ek Tha Tiger with incredible enthusiasm. After the teaser was released the Yash Raj Films server crashed due to excessive traffic after three minutes.
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Salman’s fitness Salman Khan followed the self-created fitness regime for a month which he calls ‘dirty running’ in order to get in the required shape for the role of a RAW agent. In order to perform that action sequence with power this intense training was crucial for the actor.
The only Indian movie to get featured at the International Spy Museum Being showcased at the International Spy Museum in Washington, D.C., is a an international honor for the film. Its cultural impact and its role in launching the YRF Spy Universe are highlighted by its display alongside iconic spy franchises like James Bond and Mission: Impossible.
