Dadasaheb Phalke International Film Festival

Mumbai | 21 Apr, 2026 | 02:30 PM IST | By DPIFF Editorial Desk
|

Shah Rukh Khan’s King Gets 250 Crore Theatrical Deal With Pen Marudhar Ahead Of Christmas 2026 Release

Shah Rukh Khan’s upcoming film King is already creating strong discussion before its release. The film is directed by Siddharth Anand and is scheduled to arrive during the Christmas 2026 holiday period. Now, the project has added another major update, as Pen Marudhar has reportedly secured the all-India theatrical distribution rights in a deal worth 250 crore.

The reported agreement places King among the biggest theatrical deals linked to a Hindi film in recent times. It also shows the market confidence around the project, especially with Shah Rukh Khan leading the film after his recent box office run.

Pen Marudhar Comes On Board For Nationwide Release

According to trade reports, Pen Marudhar has acquired the theatrical rights for India. The company has worked on several films connected with Shah Rukh Khan’s banner in the past, including Jawan, Dunki, Zero, Badla, and Ittefaq.

With King expected to release on a wide scale, the partnership could play an important role in planning the film’s reach across multiplexes and single screens.

Big Cast And Large Scale Production

King is reportedly mounted on a budget of around 400 crore. The film also features a large cast including Deepika Padukone, Rani Mukerji, Abhishek Bachchan, Suhana Khan, Anil Kapoor, Abhay Verma and Arshad Warsi among others.

The casting has added more engagement to the project, especially as audiences wait to see Shah Rukh Khan in a new form after his recent releases.

Christmas 2026 

The film is targeting the 2026 Christmas weekend, which is predicted to be crowded with international releases like Avengers: Doomsday, Dune 3 and Jumanji.

Because of this release period, securing a strong distribution partner becomes important for screen count, show timing strategy, and broader market reach.

Strong Demand in the Trade Market

Reports also suggest that multiple major companies were interested in the domestic rights of King. Names said to be in the race include A.A. Films, Jio Studios, PVR INOX Pictures, Yash Raj Films and Dharma Productions.

This level of interest reflects how the trade is viewing the film ahead of release.

Final Note
With Shah Rukh Khan, Siddharth Anand, a major cast, and now a 250 crore theatrical deal, King is building momentum months before release. The next big question now is whether the film can turn this pre-release buzz into another major box office run in December 2026.