"Tiger vs Pathaan" - Shelved, Delayed, or Still Being Completed? -

“Tiger vs Pathaan” – Shelved, Delayed, or Still Being Completed?

The excitement has been palpable ever since Yash Raj Films (YRF) announced the dream crossover with the two Khans. Let’s take a closer look at the actual status as of June 2025.

Several publications have reported that Tiger v Pathaan was very likely dropped quietly rather than just delayed. close to Shah Rukh, shared with Koimoi:

“This was more like wishful thinking… Putting together Shah Rukh’s Pathaan and Salman’ Tiger was simply pie in the sky… economically impractical.”

Likewise, ARY News reported in March 2025 that the film was shelved due to high budget difficulties, but some insiders later suggested it’s only delayed, not dead .

Rewrites of the script and scheduling were a not so unnoticed soft factor here. In late 2023, both Bollywood Hungama and Film Companion confirmed YRF pressed pause on the film production to sometime in 2025 with a 2026 release in mind, to give Aditya Chopra and his team time to focus on the script .

In early 2025, Salman Khan himself hinted at a public storytelling interaction that the film is “not happening immediately” and budget is still a hurdle .

Over on Reddit, BollyBlindsNGossip users were mixed:

“Definitely has more validity…. Karan Arjun 2 would probably been better than this film”

“nah it will happen…. it will happen but not until 2026 to 2027. Adi Chopra understands a Srk vs Salman will immediately have a 1000cr in the bank”

Fans are obviously aware of the financial potential but are just as aware that if it is poorly scripted, it could fail and failed projects tend to haunt the actors involved.

All aspects of financial practicality remain a huge worry- other than actors’ fees underlying costs, production is a huge expenditures on the project even at discounted rates.

Script quality is ultimately flashpoint- YRF seems to feel comfortable deferring rather than risking an inadequate crossover.

This was deferred, perhaps indefinitely and not formally shelved – but it’s dichotomous and hard to believe as whatever the case is, without a script and budget, it’s not really in reality yet. A 2026 or after release if the best case scenario.

YRF’s Pathaan 2 will be slated to begin by late 2024 with the production of the crossover further placed on faltering timelines.

Many fans and critics have even suggested that expecting stronger solo franchises to appear (which includes War 2 or full tiger films) before a full-starrer come out with both Khans.

Tiger vs Pathaan remains a flagship but transient start and stops. Delays are real-Canceling has not been formally been announced, but for all intents and purposes feels as if the project only lives in the world of “maybe” until whenever YRF, Salman, and SRK solid commit and involved with a working script and budget.