Shah Rukh Khan’s upcoming film King is yet to arrive in theatres, but it has already secured a record-breaking overseas distribution deal. According to reports, Phars Films has acquired the international theatrical rights of the Siddharth Anand directorial for a minimum guarantee of ₹175 crore (over USD 18 million), making it the biggest overseas rights deal for an Indian film. The development highlights Shah Rukh’s strong international box-office pull, which was evident with the overseas success of Pathaan and Jawan—both of which earned approximately ₹400 crore abroad. However, the substantial amount involved means King will have to deliver an impressive performance in international markets for its distributors to recover their investment.
The reported ₹175 crore agreement sets a new record, as earlier overseas deals for Indian films were reportedly below the ₹100 crore mark. In the past, Shah Rukh’s international releases have largely been distributed by Yash Raj Films, which handled Pathaan and Jawan in 2023. Phars Films, meanwhile, has previously collaborated with YRF on overseas distribution and independently handled the international release of Prabhas-starrer Saaho. Unlike the earlier commission-basis arrangement, Phars is expected to sell individual markets such as Germany and North America to sub-distributors while directly handling the Middle East, where the firm is based.
The scale of the investment sets a challenging target for King at the international box office. Overseas distributors typically earn around 50 percent of a film’s gross collections, meaning the film would need to earn approximately USD 37 million to USD 40 million (₹350 crore to ₹375 crore) overseas merely to break even. Some reports suggest the figure could be even higher—around USD 50 million (₹475 crore)—since Phars is expected to sell certain markets at a premium. This is significantly higher than what Pathaan and Jawan achieved overseas, and King will also face stiff competition from Hollywood releases like Avengers: Doomsday and Dune Part 3, both slated for December 18.
King features Shah Rukh Khan in the lead, marking his second collaboration with director Siddharth Anand after Pathaan. The film boasts an ensemble cast including Suhana Khan—marking her big-screen debut alongside her father—Deepika Padukone, Abhishek Bachchan, Rani Mukerji, Anil Kapoor, Jackie Shroff, Arshad Warsi, Jaideep Ahlawat, and Raghav Juyal. Produced by Gauri Khan, Siddharth Anand, and Mamta Anand under Red Chillies Entertainment and Marflix Pictures, King is set to arrive in theatres on December 24, 2026. With its record-breaking overseas deal already in place, the film carries immense expectations as it heads into the competitive Christmas release window.
