King set to surpass budgets of Shah Rukh Khan’s previous two blockbusters
Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan is set to return to the big screen with King, marking his comeback after a brief hiatus. Three years after his last theatrical release, the global icon will once again entertain audiences during the winter season. This time, however, the film carries a special significance, as Shah Rukh will share the screen with his daughter, Suhana Khan, for the first time.
According to reports, Shah Rukh is leaving no stone unturned to make his daughter's big-screen debut a memorable one. The film's shooting schedule will span nearly 150 days across multiple domestic and international locations. Filming is expected to wrap up in August this year, after which the project will move into post-production.
Produced by Gauri Khan under the banner of Red Chillies Entertainment and directed by Siddharth Anand, King has an estimated production budget of around ₹450 crore, making it one of the most expensive films of Shah Rukh Khan's career. The budget surpasses that of his previous blockbusters—Jawan, which was made for approximately ₹400 crore, and Pathaan, produced at a cost of around ₹350 crore.
The film is also expected to feature spectacular action sequences choreographed by an international stunt team. According to those associated with the production, the action scenes will be unlike anything previously seen in Bollywood.
The title King also has an interesting backstory. Producer Sajid Nadiadwala had earlier planned to make a film with the same title, to be directed by Kabir Khan and starring Hrithik Roshan. However, the project was eventually shelved, and Nadiadwala later sold the title rights to Shah Rukh Khan's production house, Red Chillies Entertainment.
The family-oriented action thriller boasts an ensemble cast that includes Shah Rukh Khan, Suhana Khan, Deepika Padukone, Abhishek Bachchan, Rani Mukerji, Anil Kapoor, and Jackie Shroff. If all goes according to plan, King is scheduled for a worldwide theatrical release on December 24.