When Aditya Chopra launched his first spy film Ek Tha Tiger in 2012, Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif led the cast, while Ranvir Shorey and Girish Karnad made strong impressions in supporting roles. Ranvir’s performance earned him praise from audiences and industry stalwarts alike, including Yash Chopra and Salim Khan.But when the sequel Tiger Zinda Hai was announced in 2017, Ranvir was nowhere to be seen. Now, in a new conversation with Digital Commentary, the actor has finally shared the reason behind his absence.
“My role was smaller, and so was my fee”
Ranvir recalled that YRF had indeed approached him for the sequel, but the terms didn’t sit right with him. “After Tiger, YRF offered me Tiger 2 as well. But the issue was that the role was smaller than the prequel. This was despite Yash Chopra and Salim Khan appreciating my work in the first film. When I got the script, I noticed my role was smaller, and so was my fee. I was like, ‘Why are you doing this?’” he said.According to him, his logic was simple—if a role and performance is well received, then both screen time and fee should grow. But the makers didn’t budge, and Shorey decided to walk away from the project.
Taking Tiger 3 “out of anger”
The actor revealed that the team came back to him for the third installment in 2023, following the passing of Girish Karnad. “When the time came to make Tiger 3, after Girish Karnad passed away, I was the only one left from Tiger’s original team. They approached me again, but with the same issue. I was like, ‘You are asking me to return just to kill my character?’ They said, ‘Yes.’ This angered me. I took up the role in anger: ‘Theek hai, main apne character ko maut dene aajaunga. If this is what you have reduced him to, then let him die,’” the actor said.Shorey added that the only consolation was that the payment this time was more respectable. “It was not great, but a decent amount,” he admitted.Ranvir also revealed that his character’s death scene reminded him of the ending of Ek Tha Tiger, giving him a sense of closure.
