Shah Rukh Khan’s upcoming action spectacle King has secured a major pre-release boost, with its all-India theatrical distribution rights reportedly sold to Pen Marudhar Entertainment for ₹250 crore, according to a report by Bollywood Hungama.
The deal, one of the biggest in recent times, was finalised after competitive bidding that saw interest from several major distributors, including A.A. Films, Jio Studios, PVR INOX Pictures, Yash Raj Films, and Dharma Productions.
A trade source quoted by the portal said Pen Marudhar’s long-standing association with Shah Rukh Khan’s banner played a decisive role in securing the rights.
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A festive gamble in a crowded box office window
King is slated for a December 24 release, positioning it in one of the most competitive global box office windows. The film is expected to clash with major Hollywood tentpoles such as Jumanji, Avengers: Doomsday and Dune 3.
Industry insiders say the choice of a strong distribution partner was crucial to ensure a wide and aggressive nationwide rollout during the festive season, when audience attention is split across multiple big-ticket releases.
Big budget, bigger expectations
Mounted on a reported budget of ₹400 crore, King marks Shah Rukh Khan’s return to the big screen after his blockbuster 2023 run with Pathaan, Jawan and Dunki.
It marks his collaboration with filmmaker Siddharth Anand, who had earlier directed Pathaan. It also sees a lineup of actors, which includes Deepika Padukone, Rani Mukherjee, Abhishek Bachchan, Anil Kapoor, Arshad Warsi, and Abhay Verma.
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Another interesting thing about the movie is that Suhana Khan has been brought in alongside her father after making her Bollywood acting debut with The Archies.
Considering its massive budget, stellar cast and timing of its theatrical release, King is all set to be among the most anticipated movies in 2026. Notably, the movie's whopping ₹250 crore distribution deal highlights industry optimism, but then again, with multiple films set for release, King needs to stand out.
