Salman Khan & Ali Abbas Zafar Movies Together List — 3 Films
Complete Movies List & Collaboration History
Last updated: 2026-06-03 · Data sources: Wikipedia, TMDB
Salman Khan and Ali Abbas Zafar appeared together in 3 Hindi films between 2016 and 2019. Their highest-rated collaboration was Sultan (2016 — 7.4/10). Films span Sultan (2016) through Bharat (2019).
The Salman Khan & Ali Abbas Zafar partnership
From Sultan (2016) to Bharat (2019). Sultan is the one most viewers reach for. It started with Sultan (2016).
The shape of the work
Salman Khan acted in every film; Ali Abbas Zafar directed all of them. Strictly Hindi cinema — they never crossed industries together.
Partnership facts
- Ali Abbas Zafar was a 33-year-old assistant director on Salman's 2012 film 'Ek Tha Tiger'. Salman liked his energy so much that he told him, 'One day you'll direct me.' Four years later, Zafar walked into Salman's office with the script of 'Sultan' — and Salman said yes on the spot.
- On 'Sultan', Zafar made Salman do something he'd never done in 27 years: train for six months like a real wrestler, not a movie star. Salman gained 12 kilos of muscle, then lost 18 kilos for the younger scenes. Zafar later said, 'He trusted me to break his own image.'
- Because of this duo, 'Tiger Zinda Hai' (2017) became the first Hindi film to cross ₹300 crore in the overseas market. That record directly inspired Yash Raj Films to greenlight a full 'Tiger' franchise — including the crossover 'Pathaan' (2023) and the upcoming 'Tiger vs Pathaan'.
- During 'Bharat' (2019), Salman's mother was hospitalized. Zafar quietly rescheduled the entire shoot around Salman's hospital visits — and never told the press. Salman found out months later from a crew member. He called Zafar and said, 'You're family now.'
3 films across 1 decade
- Sultan
- Tiger Zinda Hai
The partnership in numbers
Partnership Pattern
3 films across 3 years represents consistent collaboration.
Language Distribution
Linguistic diversity: 1 language, with Hindi being their primary medium.
Where each was in their career
38% of Ali Abbas Zafar's screen credits are with Salman Khan. When they first worked together, Salman Khan had 90 films behind them; Ali Abbas Zafar had 2.
Before Sultan, Salman Khan had starred in 90 films, including Bajrangi Bhaijaan (2015) and Chillar Party (2011).
After Bharat, Salman Khan went on to appear in 11 more films, including The B****di (2025) and Pathaan (2023).
Before Sultan, Ali Abbas Zafar had directed 2 films, including Mere Brother Ki Dulhan (2011) and Gunday (2014).
After Bharat, Ali Abbas Zafar went on to direct 3 more films, including Jogi (2022) and Bloody Daddy (2023).
Collaboration Journey
A chronological view of Salman Khan & Ali Abbas Zafar's professional partnership
Actors and musicians who worked on most of their films
Katrina Kaif is the through-line — cast on 2 of their 3 films.
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