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King, Shah Rukh Khan's first film since 2023, is now ten weeks from release. Fans are counting down to 2 November – his birthday – because reports say the teaser will drop that day. Is that confirmed? Not yet. Here is a clear look at what the makers have officially announced, what has only been reported, and everything else we know about the cast, story and shoot as of 14 October 2026.
King quick facts
- Release: 24 December 2026, in cinemas (officially announced)
- Director: Siddharth Anand (Pathaan)
- Producers: Red Chillies Entertainment and Marflix Pictures
- Lead: Shah Rukh Khan, with Suhana Khan in her big-screen debut
- Also starring: Deepika Padukone and Abhishek Bachchan
- Genre: action thriller
- Language: Hindi
Is the King teaser coming on 2 November?
It is reported, not confirmed. On 13 October 2026, Bollywood Hungama reported, citing unnamed insiders, that Siddharth Anand plans to release an action-packed teaser on Shah Rukh Khan's birthday, 2 November, as a gift to fans and the start of the film's global marketing campaign. The report says the teaser shows the actor in a "never-seen-before" avatar. Several outlets have repeated the story, but each one traces back to that same report, and neither Red Chillies nor Marflix has announced a teaser date.
The date is believable. A year earlier, on 2 November 2025 – his 60th birthday – the makers unveiled the title King with a short video showing Shah Rukh Khan with silver hair, playing what the voiceover suggests is a killer who has lost count of his victims. Shah Rukh's birthday has become a regular launch date for his films. Still, until the makers announce it, treat 2 November as a strong possibility rather than a fixed date.
King release date history
- 2023–2024: The project was first reported with Sujoy Ghosh as director, with several start dates that came and went.
- Late 2024: Siddharth Anand took over as director.
- May 2025: Filming began in Mumbai.
- 2 November 2025: Title and first look revealed on Shah Rukh Khan's 60th birthday, with only "2026" as the release year.
- 24 January 2026: Shah Rukh Khan announced the release date with a short video ending on the line "End the year with Fear" – 24 December 2026, Christmas Eve.
The film arrives a week after Hollywood's Avengers: Doomsday and Dune: Part Three, both dated 18 December, so the Christmas box office will be crowded.
King cast
| Actor | What we know |
|---|---|
| Shah Rukh Khan | Lead; widely reported to play a skilled assassin |
| Suhana Khan | Big-screen debut after Netflix's The Archies; reported to play a young girl he protects and trains |
| Deepika Padukone | Reunites with Shah Rukh Khan after Pathaan and Jawan |
| Abhishek Bachchan | Widely reported to play the main villain |
| Rani Mukerji | Reported to play Suhana's mother |
| Anil Kapoor, Jackie Shroff, Arshad Warsi, Jaideep Ahlawat | Part of the ensemble; roles not revealed |
| Abhay Verma, Raghav Juyal, Saurabh Shukla | Supporting roles |
Two more names are only reported for now: Kareena Kapoor Khan in a special song, and Ranveer Singh in a cameo. Neither has been confirmed by the makers.
What is King about?
The makers have not released a synopsis. What we have comes from the title video and from reports:
- The 2025 title video presents Shah Rukh as a ruthless, silver-haired killer – a shot of him holding a King of Hearts playing card became the defining image.
- Several reports say the story is a mentor-and-protégé thriller: a hardened assassin and the young girl (Suhana) he takes under his wing.
- An early Bollywood Hungama scoop said the film is inspired by the 1994 French film Léon: The Professional. Other outlets repeated it, but the makers have never commented, so treat the comparison as reported.
Shooting news
Filming began in May 2025 at Mehboob Studios, Mumbai. In July 2025 Shah Rukh Khan suffered a muscle injury on set, and shooting paused while he recovered. Later schedules went to Poland in autumn 2025, and Arshad Warsi shared his arrival on set there.
The Dubai schedule: a week-long desert action shoot in Dubai, planned for April 2026, was reported to be cancelled over safety concerns during the West Asia conflict. The Hollywood Reporter India, Variety India and WION all reported that the sequence moved to a Mumbai studio, where a desert set was built indoors. These reports trace back to a Mid-Day story, and the producers have made no statement.
The latest, as of 13 October, is that Shah Rukh Khan has started the final schedule: according to reports, an action sequence began filming in a Mumbai studio on 12 October, with a Kareena Kapoor song still to come.
Budget figures vary between reports – from ₹350 crore to ₹450 crore – and none of them come from the makers.
Watch Hindi movie channels live
While you wait for King, Shah Rukh Khan's older hits turn up regularly on Hindi movie channels. You can watch Star Gold HD, Sony Max HD and Colors Cineplex live on NoWireTV – on the website, the Android app and Android TV / Fire TV. NoWireTV will not stream King itself; it is a cinema release.
Read next
- Upcoming Bollywood movies in October–November 2026
- Dhoom 4: release date, cast and story
- Ramayana (2026): release date, cast and budget
- Star Gold live: watch online
Frequently asked questions
When is King releasing?
King releases in cinemas on 24 December 2026. Shah Rukh Khan announced the date in January 2026.
Is the King teaser releasing on 2 November?
That is reported, not confirmed. Bollywood Hungama reported on 13 October that a teaser is planned for Shah Rukh Khan's birthday, but the makers have not announced a date.
Who directed King?
Siddharth Anand, who earlier directed Shah Rukh Khan in Pathaan. Red Chillies Entertainment and Marflix Pictures produce.
Is King Suhana Khan's first film?
It is her first film in cinemas. She made her acting debut in The Archies, which went straight to Netflix in 2023.
Who plays the villain in King?
Abhishek Bachchan is widely reported to play the main antagonist. The makers have not officially described his role.
Is Deepika Padukone in King?
Yes. Deepika Padukone is part of the cast, reuniting with Shah Rukh Khan.
