Siddharth Anand denies reports of King being Shah Rukh Khan's most expen…

Siddharth Anand denies reports of King being Shah Rukh Khan's most expensive film

Director Siddharth Anand has dismissed reports claiming that the upcoming action thriller King is the most expensive project of Shah Rukh Khan's career. The director took to his official X account on Wednesday to label the reports False.

The denial follows claims from Bollywood Hungama and other outlets that the production budget for King has reached approximately Rs 450 crore. According to those reports, this figure excludes acting fees for Shah Rukh Khan as well as print and publicity costs. If accurate, the budget would have surpassed the reported Rs 400 crore cost of Jawan and the Rs 350 crore budget of Pathaan.

A source cited by Bollywood Hungama suggested that the film evolved from a standard action thriller into a tentpole action thriller due to the ambitions of the director and the superstar. That source claimed the spending was intended to ensure an uncompromised cinematic experience for the audience.

However, conflicting reports from Odisha TV suggest a different financial scale. That source claimed the budget was Rs 350 crore, excluding distribution and promotional costs, and noted that the project was initially conceived as a Rs 150-crore film when Sujoy Ghosh was first attached as director.

Production and Casting

King marks Shah Rukh Khan's return to the big screen after three years, following the 2023 film Dunki. The project is produced by Gauri Khan, Siddharth Anand, and Mamta Anand under Red Chillies Entertainment and Marflix Pictures. While Sujoy Ghosh originally wrote the screenplay and was set to direct, Siddharth Anand replaced him in December 2024.

The film serves as the theatrical debut for Suhana Khan. Reports indicate the story is inspired by the 1994 French film Léon: The Professional, with Shah Rukh Khan playing a highly skilled assassin and Suhana portraying his protégé. Other cast members include:

• Abhishek Bachchan, who joined in July 2024 as the primary antagonist.
• Deepika Padukone, who joined in April 2025.
• Rani Mukerji, confirmed in May 2025 to play Suhana's mother.
• Anil Kapoor and Jackie Shroff, who also joined in May 2025.
• Arshad Warsi, Jaideep Ahlawat, Raghav Juyal, and Abhay Verma.

According to India Today, the film may employ a dual-timeline narrative. In this structure, Khan's character is said to face Raghav Juyal in his younger years and Abhishek Bachchan as an older adversary.

Filming Challenges and Logistics

Principal photography began in May 2025 at Mehboob Studios in Mumbai. The production has since moved across multiple international locations, including Cape Town, Warsaw, and Gdansk. The team has shot for more than 150 days, utilizing global stunt teams and high-end VFX provided by Red Chillies Entertainment.

The shoot has faced several setbacks. In July 2025, Shah Rukh Khan suffered a muscular injury during action scenes at the Golden Tobacco Factory in Mumbai, requiring medical treatment in the United States and a six-week break in filming. Additionally, actor Raghav Juyal sustained a leg injury during stunt sequences. In April 2026, a planned desert sequence in Dubai featuring Anil Kapoor and Suhana Khan was canceled due to the crisis in the Middle East and relocated to Mumbai.

Notable production highlights include a jail sequence in June 2025 featuring 200 stunt performers and a large-scale action scene in Gdansk, Poland, reportedly mounted on a budget of ₹50 crore.

Release and Technical Details

The first-look poster was unveiled on 2 November 2025 to coincide with Shah Rukh Khan's 60th birthday, featuring the actor with a salt-and-pepper look. The soundtrack is composed by Sachin–Jigar, while Anirudh Ravichander is providing the film score.

King is scheduled for a theatrical release on 24 December 2026. It will be released in Hindi with dubbed versions in English, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and Malayalam. Distribution in India will be handled by Pen Marudhar, with Yash Raj Films managing overseas distribution.