Shah Rukh Khan’s action thriller “King” will open in international cinemas on Dec. 24, the same day as its Indian release, after the producers signed UAE-based Phars Film as overseas distributor. Red Chillies Entertainment, Khan’s production house, announced the deal this week. The company made the film with Marflix Pictures. Pen Marudhar holds the rights in India. Venky Mysore, Red Chillies’ chief executive, said Phars Film’s global reach and knowledge of foreign markets will lift the film’s prospects abroad. Ahmad Golchin, Phars Film’s chairman, called the release “an immense source of pride” for his company.
The announcement followed Khan’s 61st birthday on Monday, when the actor unveiled a poster and the film’s first song. A simultaneous worldwide opening signals that the producers are aiming to blunt piracy and capitalize on the Christmas holiday, a prime window for Hindi-language tentpoles.
“King” reunites Khan with director Siddharth Anand, who made “Pathaan” with him in 2023. That spy thriller marked Khan’s return after a four-year absence from the screen and grossed about 10.5 billion rupees ($120 million) worldwide, ranking among the highest-earning Indian films ever. Anand also directed “Fighter.”
The new film carries a crowded cast. Suhana Khan, the star’s daughter, makes her theatrical debut. Abhishek Bachchan, Deepika Padukone, Anil Kapoor, Rani Mukerji, Jaideep Ahlawat and Jackie Shroff round out the lineup. Anand co-wrote the screenplay with Sujoy Ghosh, Suresh Nair and Sagar Pandya. Gauri Khan, Mamta Anand and Anand produce.
The project has changed shape since it was first reported. Early accounts named Ghosh as director and placed the start of production in November 2023. Anand took the reins later and the schedule slid, a delay that the producers have not publicly explained.
The timing matters for an industry enjoying a strong year. Hindi cinema has already drawn large crowds for “Dhurandhar: The Revenge,” which opened in March. Trade observers expect “King” to add to that momentum, particularly in the Gulf, North America and Britain, where Khan’s films have long attracted diaspora audiences. Phars Film described the film as already generating buzz, though no advance ticket figures have been released.
