Shah Rukh Khan's upcoming film King has reportedly generated Rs 665 crore through pre-release business, even before arriving in theatres. According to Sacnilk, the Siddharth Anand directorial has secured substantial deals across domestic and international theatrical distribution, digital streaming, satellite and music rights, making it one of the biggest pre-release business stories in recent Hindi cinema.
The excitement surrounding King increased further on November 2, when Shah Rukh celebrated his birthday by unveiling the film's first song. The promotional campaign has kicked off nearly seven weeks ahead of its theatrical release on December 24, 2026. The film will also mark the actor's return to the big screen after a gap of more than three years.
A significant portion of the reported Rs 665 crore comes from theatrical distribution agreements. Phars Films has reportedly acquired the overseas distribution rights for a minimum guarantee of Rs 175 crore. The deal is believed to be the highest overseas minimum guarantee for an Indian film, with previous agreements reportedly not exceeding Rs 100 crore.
In the domestic market, Pen Marudhar has reportedly secured the Indian theatrical distribution rights for Rs 250 crore, according to Pinkvilla.
The film's non-theatrical agreements have also contributed substantially to its pre-release earnings. Netflix has reportedly purchased the digital streaming rights for Rs 150 crore, while the satellite and music rights have been sold for Rs 25 crore and Rs 65 crore, respectively.
However, the Netflix agreement reportedly includes an interesting condition in the form of a theatrical performance rider. This means the final value of the streaming deal could vary depending on the film's performance at the box office. If the reported figures are accurate, King has already accumulated Rs 665 crore through its pre-release deals.
Behind these impressive commercial figures is a production that has expanded considerably in scale. Initially planned with a budget of approximately Rs 200 crore, King has reportedly seen its production expenses increase to nearly Rs 400 crore. This amount includes director Siddharth Anand's remuneration but does not account for Shah Rukh Khan's acting fee.
Once the superstar's notional remuneration is included, the overall budget could reportedly reach Rs 500 crore. An additional Rs 40 crore is expected to be spent on promotional activities and release-related expenses. Against this backdrop, the film's reported pre-release earnings represent a substantial recovery even before its theatrical debut.
King also reunites Shah Rukh Khan and Siddharth Anand following their successful 2023 film Pathaan. The upcoming project marks Shah Rukh's first on-screen collaboration with his daughter, Suhana Khan, adding to the anticipation surrounding the film.
Deepika Padukone, Rani Mukerji and Abhishek Bachchan are also part of the cast, playing important roles in the film.
