Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif’s Ek Tha Tiger becomes first Indian film featured at Washington’s International Spy Museum

Ek Tha Tiger becomes first Indian film featured at Washington’s International Spy Museum

More than a decade after its release, Ek Tha Tiger is still making waves — and this time, it’s across the globe. The 2012 action-packed thriller, starring Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif, has been given a rare international nod by earning a place at the International Spy Museum in Washington, DC.

The museum, which specialises in documenting the intriguing realm of espionage, has a dedicated area honouring classic spy films and television series. And among the likes of James Bond, Mission Impossible, Mr & Mrs Smith, The Imitation Game, and Bridge of Spies — you’ll now find Ek Tha Tiger, proudly representing Indian cinema.

The news came as a surprise even to director Kabir Khan, who only found out thanks to a few fans visiting the museum.
“They messaged me – We saw the poster of Ek Tha Tiger and it’s the only Hindi film there in the whole galaxy of films. I found it very amusing and it was great to see Salman and Katrina’s faces on that wall!” Kabir shared, adding that it seems to be a recent addition. “The first message I got, informing me about it, was a few months ago.”

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Ek Tha Tiger, produced by Aditya Chopra under Yash Raj Films, was more than just a box office hit when it released — it launched what would become a beloved franchise and cemented the chemistry between Salman and Katrina as iconic. The film’s story of an Indian RAW agent and a Pakistani ISI agent who fall in love struck a chord with audiences not just for its slick action, but also its emotional depth.

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Reflecting on the film’s enduring appeal, Kabir said: “Those were the days when we were not relying so much on VFX for action. I feel that as a filmmaker and an audience, there’s a difference when you attempt raw, real and gritty action. Too much dependence on VFX doesn’t connect.”

It’s moments like these that remind us how certain stories — even years later — still resonate. With this latest milestone, Ek Tha Tiger has carved out a space not just in Bollywood history, but on the global stage.

As for the stars, Katrina was last seen in the 2024 thriller Merry Christmas, while Salman Khan recently appeared in Sikandar and will soon be seen in Battle of Galwan.