‘King’: Shah Rukh Khan’s new movie set for Christmas 2026 release
Film introduces Suhana Khan alongside Bollywood’s biggest ensemble cast
DUBAI/MUMBAI – Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan is set to return to cinemas with King, an upcoming Hindi-language action thriller scheduled for a worldwide theatrical release on December 24, 2026.
Directed by Siddharth Anand, the film marks Khan’s first theatrical outing since his record-breaking 2023 run and reunites him with the filmmaker after Pathaan. Timed for a Christmas release, the project is positioned as one of Indian cinema’s biggest action spectacles to date.
#KING is Ready to ROAR on 24.12.2026 in Cinemas#ItsKingTime#KingDateAnnouncement pic.twitter.com/a60zM0pc1s
— Shah Rukh Khan (@iamsrk) January 24, 2026
Produced by Gauri Khan, Siddharth Anand and Mamta Anand under Red Chillies Entertainment and Marflix Pictures, King carries a reported budget of INR350 crore, making it India’s costliest action film. The screenplay is penned by Siddharth Anand, Sujoy Ghosh, Suresh Nair and Sagar Pandya, with dialogues by Abbas Tyrewala, while the story is credited to Ghosh.
King’s star cast
The film stars Shah Rukh Khan in the lead alongside his daughter Suhana Khan, who makes her theatrical debut following The Archies in 2023. The ensemble cast includes Deepika Padukone, Abhishek Bachchan, Anil Kapoor, Jackie Shroff, Arshad Warsi and Rani Mukerji, with Jaideep Ahlawat, Raghav Juyal, Saurabh Shukla, Abhay Verma, S. J. Suryah and Karanvir Malhotra in pivotal roles.
Abhishek Bachchan plays the primary antagonist, while Rani Mukerji appears as Suhana Khan’s on-screen mother. Reports indicate Shah Rukh Khan portrays a lethal assassin, with Suhana’s character positioned as his protégé, and the narrative unfolding across two timelines.
Production scale
Principal photography began in May 2025 at Mumbai’s Mehboob Studios, followed by extensive schedules in Warsaw, Poland. Large-scale action sequences were filmed using over 200 stunt performers, including an elaborate jail fight sequence constructed on custom-built sets. Filming faced brief delays after Shah Rukh Khan sustained a muscular injury during an action shoot in July 2025, pushing the schedule by nearly a month.
The film’s cinematography is handled by Satchith Paulose, with editing by Ruben. The project is reportedly inspired by the 1994 French classic Léon: The Professional.
Music buzz
The soundtrack and background score are composed by Anirudh Ravichander, marking his first collaboration with Siddharth Anand and second with Shah Rukh Khan after Jawan. Industry buzz also suggests British singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran may have contributed to a track, although no official confirmation has been issued.
The title and first-look poster were unveiled on November 2, 2025, coinciding with Khan’s 60th birthday, showcasing him in a rugged, salt-and-pepper avatar.
The film is set to release in Hindi along with dubbed versions in Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada and English across international markets.