Mumbai: Shah Rukh Khan’s upcoming film ‘King’ is reportedly making big money even before its theatrical release. According to Sacnilk, the Siddharth Anand directorial has secured Rs 665 crore through pre-release deals, making it one of the biggest pre-release business stories in recent Hindi cinema.
The film has reportedly secured deals across domestic and overseas distribution, streaming, satellite and music rights ahead of its December release.
The buzz around ‘King’ grew further on November 2, when Shah Rukh celebrated his birthday by unveiling the film’s first song. The promotional campaign began nearly seven weeks before its theatrical release on December 24, 2026. The film will also mark the actor’s return to the big screen after more than three years.
A major share of the reported Rs 665 crore comes from theatrical distribution deals. Phars Films has reportedly acquired the overseas distribution rights for a minimum guarantee of Rs 175 crore. The deal is said to be the highest overseas minimum guarantee secured by an Indian film, with no earlier deal reportedly crossing Rs 100 crore.
In India, Pen Marudhar has acquired the theatrical distribution rights for Rs 250 crore, according to reports.
Non-theatrical deals have also contributed significantly to the film’s pre-release earnings. Netflix has reportedly acquired the streaming rights for Rs 150 crore, while satellite and music rights have fetched Rs 25 crore and Rs 65 crore, respectively.
The Netflix deal reportedly includes a theatrical performance rider, meaning the final value of the streaming rights could change depending on the film’s performance in cinemas. If the reported figures hold, the total pre-release business stands at Rs 665 crore.
Initially planned on a budget of around Rs 200 crore, ‘King’ has reportedly grown in scale, with production costs climbing to nearly Rs 400 crore. This includes director Siddharth Anand’s remuneration but excludes Shah Rukh’s acting fee.
The overall cost could reach Rs 500 crore after factoring in the actor’s notional fee, with another Rs 40 crore expected to be spent on publicity and release expenses.
The film reunites Shah Rukh and Siddharth Anand after their 2023 blockbuster ‘Pathaan’. It also marks Shah Rukh’s first on-screen collaboration with daughter Suhana Khan. Deepika Padukone, Rani Mukerji and Abhishek Bachchan also feature in key roles.
