Salman Khan is the biggest superstar of India, enjoying an incredibly loyal fan base across the globe. While he has delivered many blockbusters, Ek Tha Tiger stands out as the ultimate super hit that not only gave India its most loved on-screen spy but also ruled over millions of hearts. Now, this Salman Khan film has achieved a great milestone by becoming the only Indian film to be featured at the International Spy Museum in Washington, D.C., USA.
At the International Spy Museum in Washington, D.C., a special section dedicated to iconic spy films and series showcases around 25 celebrated international titles. Among these global greats shines Salman Khan’s Ek Tha Tiger, remarkably, the only Hindi film to earn a place on this prestigious wall of fame. A rare honour indeed, considering the hundreds of acclaimed spy films made across the world.
The director of Ek Tha Tiger, Kabir Khan said on this honour, “I didn’t have any knowledge about it and I got to know about it from the people who saw it over there. 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!”
He further added, “Some films take a life of their own as the years pass. Ek Tha Tiger is one such film that has grown in popularity, also because it subsequently became part of the Spyverse initiated by Yash Raj. Being the first film of the universe gives it a certain exalted position. To date, I receive numerous messages about it, and they appreciate what we did at that point in time. 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 was the first film to bring out that spy genre in a big way, featuring stars like Salman and Katrina. That also helped.” he added.
Sharing about the moment he got to know, Ek Tha Tiger’s honour at the International Spy Museum, he replied, “This must have been a recent addition. The first message I got, informing me about it, was a few months ago.”
Apart from this, Salman Khan’s lineup remains packed with high-octane commercial entertainers like his upcoming and much awaited war drama, Battle of Galwan which has already set the internet talking and generated an intrigue amongst the audience ever since the first look was out. A reunion with Kabir Khan, especially one involving Bajrangi Bhaijaan 2, could mark a shift towards the emotionally resonant storytelling that defined their earlier work together.
