UAE distributor Phars Film to release Shah Rukh Khan’s ‘King’ in international cinemas

UAE-based film distributor Phars Film has announced it will handle the international cinema release of King, the upcoming action thriller starring Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan. The announcement came days after Khan unveiled a poster for the film.

“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,” said Ahmad Golchin, chairman of Phars Film. “Since Shah Rukh Khan is a global icon and his cinematic influence knows no boundaries, it is both a privilege and a great source of pride for our whole team that we are bringing King to the big screen. We look forward to ensuring that this much-anticipated release becomes a truly unforgettable theatrical experience for audiences.”

Poster reveal sparks excitement

On 27 October, Khan posted a poster of the film on social media, sending fan expectations soaring. The post on Instagram had, at the time of writing, garnered over 2.4 million likes, drawn 52,000 comments and been shared nearly 51,000 times. The poster shows a rugged Khan with a bloodied chest, striding out of a tunnel engulfed in flames while holding a gun.

Filmmaker Karan Johar, who has collaborated with Khan on numerous occasions, shared the poster on his Instagram stories with the caption “The one and only King”. Other celebrities, including actress Ananya Pandey, also shared the poster.

Cast and production details

King reunites Khan with director Siddharth Anand. The pair previously worked together on the 2023 action film Pathaan, which featured Downtown Dubai among its many backdrops. King is scheduled for a theatrical release on 24 December.

The film boasts an ensemble cast including Khan, Abhishek Bachchan, Deepika Padukone, Khan’s daughter Suhana Khan, and Anil Kapoor. It is produced by Khan’s production company Red Chillies Entertainment in association with Marflix Pictures.

Venky Mysore, chief executive of Red Chillies Entertainment, said in a statement: “We are delighted to have Phars Film as our overseas distributor for the much-anticipated film King. Phars Film’s extensive international reach and market expertise will significantly strengthen the film’s global prospects.”

Special appearances and behind the scenes

According to Indian media reports, actresses Kareena Kapoor Khan and Rani Mukerji, both of whom have starred with Khan in many previous films, are expected to make special appearances in King.

In a recent question-and-answer session on X, Khan said he has been “troubling” the visual effects team at his production house. “Troubling RC (Red Chillies Entertainment) VFX a lot… I think they might ban me from coming to the office late nights soon,” he wrote.