Produced by Aditya Chopra under Yash Raj Films,[1][6][7] it serves as a sequel to Ek Tha Tiger (2012) and is the second instalment in the YRF Spy Universe, and stars Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif reprising their roles from the predecessor.
Zafar was subsequently hired as the writer and director; Misra, who had written the script for Ek Tha Tiger alongside Khan, contributed to the story, which is inspired from the 2014 abduction of Indian nurses by ISIL.
[14] In 2019, almost 8 years after the events of Ek Tha Tiger, an American journalist is killed by the ISC, a terrorist organisation, in Iraq, while attempting to report their recent activities to the CIA.
During a rally in Ikrit, their leader, Abu Usman, is shot by the Iraqi Army and is taken to the local hospital, which also serves as a training center for Indian and Pakistani nurses.
They travel to Iraq and pose as illegal migrant workers for an oil refinery run by Tohbaan, an Indian sympathiser to the ISC and Amir Baghdawi, Usman's second-in-command.
Tiger meets his handler named Pawan in Ikrit to gather supplies, but they are forced to rescue Hassan, a child suicide bomber sent by Usman.
Tiger is initially tortured but stabs Usman (who manages to escape) and tries to free Zoya while the nurses are rescued by RAW and ISI.
[20] Iranian actor Sajjad Delafrooz was roped in to play the role of Abu Usman, leader of terrorist organisation ISC.
[30] Maharashtra Navnirman Sena also unsuccessfully protested urging Mumbai multiplexes to promote Marathi film Deva instead of Tiger Zinda Hai.
[31] Their leaders raised issue about the loss of screens to Marathi films like Deva and Ek Atrangi which released alongside.
"[35] Aarti Jhurani of The National gave 4 out of 5 stars and wrote "While logic is not a very important factor in Khan's films, emotions certainly are, and the director made sure to hit all the soft spots – from patriotism to Indo-Pakistan bonding to a multitude of cheesy dialogues – which is a smart move, and sure to bring in both Indian and Pakistani audiences.
"[36] Lasyapriya Sundaram of The Times of India gave 3.5 out of 5 stars and wrote "The film is visually stunning in parts and Salman Khan plays Tiger with roaring confidence and dialogues packed with punch.
"[37] Rachit Gupta of Filmfare gave 3.5 out of 5 stars and wrote "It may look like a Hollywood action thriller, but at its heart, Tiger Zinda Hai is an unabashed masala movie.
"[38] Rohit Bhatnagar of Deccan Chronicle gave 3 out of 5 stars and wrote "Ali Abbas Zafar smoothly takes Ek Tha Tiger franchise ahead by telling a real story and inserting a whole lot of drama and thrill.
"[39] Rajeev Masand of News 18 gave 3 out of 5 stars and wrote "The film has some thrilling action, while logic and subtlety are sacrificed at the altar of spectacle and sentiment.
"[41] Raja Sen of NDTV gave 2.5 out of 5 stars and wrote "Tiger Zinda Hai breaks for intermission at a point when most self-respecting action films would have rushed into the climax.
"[43] Anna M. M. Vetticad of Firstpost gave 2.5 out of 5 stars stating that both Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif delivered fun with equal parts swag, silliness and schmaltz.
[44] Shubhra Gupta of Indian Express gave 2.5 out of 5 stars and wrote "Only once in a while, the film gives in and provides us with a killing which sobers us up, but very quickly it's back to the base, with Bhai taking over, and everyone including Nurse Poorna and Zoya making way for him.
"[45] Anupama Chopra of Film Companion wrote, "Tiger Zinda Hai is fun in bits and spurts, but there isn’t enough buoyancy to make it a slam dunk.
The first song of the film is titled as Swag Se Swagat which is sung by Vishal Dadlani and Neha Bhasin and produced by Meghdeep Bose[60] released on 19 November 2017.
[citation needed] The second song of the film, Dil Diyan Gallan, which is sung by Atif Aslam, was released by Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif at Big Boss Season 11 on 26 November 2017.