Shah Rukh Khan’s next theatrical outing, King, has locked its route to international cinemas. Phars Film will release the Siddarth Anand-directed feature in overseas territories on December 24, day-and-date with its India opening, Deadline reported.
The India side of the release is already set with Pen Marudhar handling distribution. King is produced by Red Chillies Entertainment in association with Marflix Pictures, and it is the first screen reunion of Khan and Anand since the 2023 blockbuster Pathaan.
Why the Phars deal matters
For media planners and entertainment marketers, this is more than a booking announcement. It shows how a marquee Hindi title is being positioned for a synchronised global theatrical event. Phars Film chairman Ahmad Golchin framed the deal as a matter of prestige for the exhibitor: “We at Phars Film feel it is an immense source of pride to bring King, featuring the renowned Shah Rukh Khan, to the big screen.”
Venky Mysore, CEO of Red Chillies Entertainment, tied the decision to execution. He said Phars’ extensive international reach and market expertise would significantly strengthen the film’s global prospects. For a film built on “edge-of-the-seat thrills, large-scale spectacle and star power,” as Phars described it, the overseas footprint is being treated as a first-run priority, not a secondary window.
The box office context
The announcement lands in a year that has already been healthy for the Hindi-language film industry. Deadline notes that 2026 has delivered hits including the March release Dhurandhar: The Revenge. King is expected to add further lift to annual box office, both in India and internationally.
The calendar is also crowded. On November 5, Ramayana: Part 1, directed by Nitesh Tiwari and produced by Namit Malhotra, opens with Sony Pictures Entertainment handling international distribution. That near-term release gives the market an early read on how big-budget Hindi films are performing overseas ahead of the December corridor.
- International distributor: Phars Film
- India distributor: Pen Marudhar
- Release date: December 24, day-and-date
- Producers: Red Chillies Entertainment and Marflix Pictures
What to watch next
The Phars deal raises a practical question for distribution teams: should a big Bollywood tentpole open everywhere at once, or stagger markets to build momentum? A day-and-date opening creates one coordinated marketing wave, but also leaves less room to adjust local campaigns after seeing early results.
For now, the relevant leading indicators are simple. Watch overseas opening-day screen counts, advance booking in international markets, and the opening performance of Ramayana: Part 1 as a comparable test of global appetite for Hindi spectacle.
Source: Deadline
