Exclusive: Kabir Khan on 'Ek Tha Tiger', Patriotism & Bollywood Journey | Sucharita Tyagi Interview

Join film critic Sucharita Tyagi for an exclusive interview with the visionary filmmaker Kabir Khan! In this interview, Kabir Khan talks about uncovering underdog stories, recounts his first visit to Yash Raj Studios with Aditya Chopra, and talks about why "Tiger Zinda Hai" is a subversive take on action cinema, his wife Mini Mathur, his friendship with singer KK and so much more. He also reflects on his views about patriotism and how he crafts political films accessible. Kabir also tells stories of Kabul Express, Chandu Champion, The Forgotten Army, and being a cinematographer and documentary filmmaker for Nat Geo before venturing into feature films. All of this unfolds as he engages in a fun game of Bananagrams, revealing the creative spark that drives his filmmaking journey!

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0:00 - Highlights
1:00 - Intro
2:08 - Short film for Melbourne Film Festival
5:38 - Finding and making underdog stories
8:50 - First meeting with Aditya Chopra at YRF for Kabul Express
13:43 - Making of New York
19:00 - “TIGER is one of my most political films”
22:11 - How Bollywood saved Kabir Khan's life
25:30 - Female characters in Kabir's films
28:00 - Crossing the soviet border for The Forgotten Army
36:20 - Choosing Kartik Aaryan for Chandu Champion
44:30 - "Criticising your country is an act of patriotism"
47:04 - Revisiting earlier work
49:11 - Friendship with singer KK
52:21 - Thoughts on gender sensitivity coordinators


Kabir Khan is an Indian film director, screenwriter and cinematographer who works in Hindi cinema. He started his career working in documentary films, and then made his feature film directorial debut in 2006 with the adventure thriller Kabul Express (2006). He is best known for directing New York (2009), Ek Tha Tiger (2012), Bajrangi Bhaijaan (2015), and 83 (2021). His latest film Chandu Champion (2024) was released on 14 June 2024 opening to positive reviews. This was his second sports biopic after 83 and after The Diplomat (2025).
He is the board member of Mumbai Academy of the Moving Image.

Sucharita Tyagi is the newly elected Vice Chairperson of the Film Critics Guild of India. With nearly 20 years of media experience, she is best known for her popular movie reviews on YouTube, where she has built a community of dedicated fans. Now splitting her time between Mumbai and New York, Tyagi also has extensive experience in broadcast radio. With a unique voice, she reviews films and discusses South Asian pop culture with honesty and passion through a contemporary, feminist lens, breaking down complex issues in relatable ways.

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Sucharita