By Naman Ramachandran

Indian filmmaker Ali Abbas Zafar is returning to Yash Raj Films (YRF), the studio where he made his first four films, Variety has learned.

Zafar made his directorial debut with YRF's 2011 romantic comedy "Mere Brother Ki Dulhan", starring Katrina Kaif, Imran Khan and Ali Zafar. The film was a hit and Zafar followed it up with the studio's action film "Gunday" (2014), starring Ranveer Singh, Arjun Kapoor, Priyanka Chopra and Irrfan Khan, which was a huge success. Blockbusters followed including the wrestling drama "Sultan" (2016), starring Salman Khan and Anushka Sharma, which is one of the studio's all-time hits; and "Tiger Zinda Hai" (2017), starring Khan and Kaif, the second instalment of YRF's popular espionage universe franchise created by studio head Aditya Chopra.

Family drama “Bharat” (2019), also starring Khan and Kaif, an adaptation of Yoon Je-kyoon’s “Ode to My Father,” also proved to be a success. Produced by Reel Life Productions, Salman Khan Films and T-Series, it was Zafar’s first film outside the YRF banner.