Bollywood has scored a rare global milestone. Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif’s 2012blockbuster Ek Tha Tiger has been honored at the International Spy Museum in Washington,D.C., where its poster is now on display among the world’s greatest spy films.
A First for Indian Cinema
Directed by Kabir Khan, Ek Tha Tiger is the only Indian film to earn this recognition. Its posternow stands alongside spy classics like Casino Royale, Mission: Impossible, Tinker Tailor SoldierSpy, and hit series such as Homeland and Alias.
Kabir Khan’s Reaction
Overjoyed with the news, director Kabir Khan said:
“Box office numbers alone don’t define a film’s success. Longevity and how audiencesremember a film matter just as much.”
The Film That Started It All
Released on Independence Day 2012, the film told the story of a RAW agent (Salman Khan) whofalls in love with an ISI agent (Katrina Kaif). Made on a budget of ₹75 crores, it went on tocollect over ₹330 crores worldwide and gave birth to the YRF Spy Universe, later joined byTiger Zinda Hai, War, Pathaan, and Tiger 3.
A Roar Beyond Borders
For the International Spy Museum—famous for celebrating espionage history and popculture—the inclusion of Ek Tha Tiger is a nod to Bollywood’s growing global footprint.
From New Delhi to Washington, the roar of Tiger now sits proudly next to James Bond andEthan Hunt—showing the world that Indian stories, too, belong on the international stage.
