Ali Abbas Zafar assisted as a director in a few YRF movies like JHOOM BARABAR JHOOM (2007), TASHAN (2008), NEW YORK (2009) & BADMAASH COMPANY (2010). He made his writing and directorial debut under the YRF banner with the rom-com MERE BROTHER KI DULHAN (2011). His second venture in direction was the action drama GUNDAY (2014) which was also written by him. He later wrote & directed the sports drama SULTAN (2016), which received an overwhelming response by critics and audiences alike. It also emerged a massive success at the box-office. In 2017, he wrote & directed TIGER ZINDA HAI, the sequel to the record-breaking blockbuster EK THA TIGER (2012) which also turned out to be a huge blockbuster.