After more than a year of meticulous preparations, multiple script revisions, and several production delays, Shah Rukh Khan and Siddharth Anand begin shooting their highly-anticipated action entertainer ‘King’ today at Mehboob Studios in Mumbai. PeepingMoon.com has exclusively learned that they are planning to release the film on Gandhi Jayanti next year. Production timelines have reportedly been set to ensure the film is ready by October 2, 2026.

“This date aligns perfectly for a grand Bollywood spectacle like ‘King’. Falling on a Friday and coinciding with a national holiday, this date positions the film for a strong box office opening. Following SRK's record-breaking 2023, there are high expectations that the actor will deliver yet another 500-crore blockbuster, and this holiday release will only accelerate its path to that milestone," a trade source revealed.

Billed as a quintessential Siddharth Anand spectacle —with high-octane action, romance, thrilling sequences, and a star-studded cast — ‘King’ is a revenge drama featuring Shah Rukh Khan as a seasoned assassin who embarks on a vengeful journey alongside Suhana Khan’s character after a devastating tragedy upends her life. Deepika Padukone plays the female lead, while Abhishek Bachchan essays the antagonist. The cast is further elevated by Anil Kapoor, Jackie Shroff, Arshad Warsi, Jaideep Ahlawat, Abhay Varma, and Rani Mukerji in pivotal roles.

The Red Chillies Entertainment and Marflix production has undergone significant changes since its inception. It was initially conceptualized with ‘Kahaani’ director Sujoy Ghosh helming the project and SRK in an extended cameo with Suhana Khan leading the narrative. However, the project later evolved into a full-fledged Shah Rukh Khan vehicle. This shift in direction reportedly led to Sujoy stepping away and Siddharth Anand taking over directorial responsibilities. Following this transition, the film is said to have undergone more script overhauls to align with its redefined scope and ambition. The film will be shot across India and various European locations, adding a global scale to its narrative.

With ‘King’ potentially blocking Gandhi Jayanti 2026, all holiday weekends of next year are almost booked now. The Republic Day weekend is occupied by Sunny Deol’s ‘Border 2’, while Eid has ‘KGF’ star Yash’s ‘Toxic’ and Ajay Devgn’s ‘Dhamaal 4’ scheduled for release. Independence Day also has two films — Kartik Aaryan’s ‘Naagzilla’ and Varun Dhawan's ‘Bhediya 2’ — slated for a clash, whereas Diwali is booked by Ranbir Kapoor's ‘Ramayana Part 1’, which is possibly the biggest Hindi film of 2026. Vicky Kaushal and Amar Kaushik’s mythological epic ‘Mahavatar’ is currently slated for Christmas 2026, though there is speculation it might be postponed to 2027. If that happens, Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s ‘Love & War’ could potentially take its place during the festive weekend.