The trailer of Salman Khan’s Tiger Zinda Hai has been shattering many records right from when it was released. The audience are praising film locations, action stunts and technical aspects, but did you know that the makers of the espionage thriller had to walk an extra mile to give us the experience of this larger-than-life film? Since Tiger Zinda Hai is loosely based on the rescue of 46 Indian nurses from Tikrit, Iraq, and the makers found it difficult to get the shooting permissions there, director Ali Abbas Zafar had to create Iraq in Abu Dhabi. And we must say, he has successfully managed to give us the authentic feel of Iraq in the film.
Talking to Mid-day, director Ali Abbas Zafar said that UAE had every element which was required to recreate Iraq. “The sand dunes and vast stretches of desert proved to be advantageous in recreating certain textures. We have shot in temperatures as high as 50 degrees Celsius on certain days,” said the director. Ali also praised the UAE government for lending their complete support during the 40-day shooting schedule. He said, “The army and air force provided us with tanks, choppers and trucks for key action sequences. The support that they offered became a primary reason for us to agree to shoot there.” The director also said that the sets of the film – around 20,000 square feet – was one of the biggest sets erected by an Indian filmmaker on foreign land. At any point in time, 100 people were working on constructing, dismantling or enhancing different parts of the set.
Tiger Zinda Hai also features Katrina Kaif, Angad Bedi, Girish Karnad and Sajjad Delfrooz in key roles. The film is all set to hit screens on December 22 during the Christmas weekend.
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