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“King,” the keenly anticipated next project from Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan, has locked its 2026 release date.
“King” reunites Khan with his “Pathaan” director Siddharth Anand, marking the superstar’s first theatrical release in three years. The cast also includes Khan’s daughter Suhana Khan, Deepika Padukone, Abhishek Bachchan, Anil Kapoor, Jackie Shroff, Arshad Warsi and Rani Mukerji.
Writers on the action thriller include include Sujoy Ghosh, Anand, Suresh Nair, Sagar Pandya and Abbas Tyrewala. The film is produced by Gauri Khan, Siddharth Anand and Mamta Anand for Red Chillies Entertainment and Marflix Pictures.
“King” is due a Dec. 24 release.
Khan, often referred to by his initials SRK, has been a dominant force in Bollywood since his breakthrough role in the 1993 thriller “Baazigar.” His charisma and versatility quickly established him as a leading man, with romantic comedies like “Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge” (1995) cementing his status as Bollywood’s “King of Romance.”
Throughout the ’90s and early 2000s, Khan’s star power seemed unstoppable. He delivered a string of box office hits, including “Kuch Kuch Hota Hai” (1998), “Devdas” (2002), and “Kal Ho Naa Ho” (2003). These films not only dominated the domestic market but also found significant audiences in the Indian diaspora, helping to expand Bollywood’s global footprint. Notably, his 1998 film “Dil Se” became the first Indian film to break into the U.K. box office top 10, signaling Bollywood’s growing international appeal.
However, Khan’s career hasn’t been without its challenges. The mid-2010s saw a series of commercial disappointments, including “Fan” (2016), “Zero” (2018) and “Jab Harry Met Sejal” (2017). These setbacks led to speculation about whether the actor’s reign at the top was coming to an end.
Yet, true to form, Khan has demonstrated resilience. The year 2023 marked a triumphant return after a four-year hiatus with three major releases: “Pathaan,” “Jawan,” and “Dunki.” Both “Pathaan” and “Jawan” have joined the ranks of India’s all-time highest-grossing films, reaffirming Khan’s enduring appeal and his ability to evolve with changing audience tastes.
In 2024, Khan was accorded a career achievement award at the Locarno Film Festival.
“King” is IMDb’s most anticipated Indian film of 2026.
English (US) ·