Shah Rukh Khan’s King has been carrying sky high expectations ever since the makers announced a December 24, 2026 release date, setting it up as a marquee Christmas weekend title. With the film positioned as a major theatrical event and Shah Rukh Khan returning to the big screen after a gap since his blockbuster 2023 run, the spotlight on director Siddharth Anand has only intensified.
Now, Siddharth Anand has directly addressed the box office chatter surrounding King, stressing that expectations cannot dictate the creative process.
Siddharth Anand On King Expectations And Creative Choices
In an official interview with Variety India, Anand spoke about the scrutiny that comes with directing a megastar and why he is steering clear of chasing a perceived “formula.” “I wouldn’t say there’s pressure, but I would say there are expectations. And that comes when you work with a megastar like SRK. So, I’m aware of those expectations. But if I start pandering to them, then it’s a mistake; I’ll go wrong in my filmmaking. Because if there were a formula for catering, then everyone would be making blockbusters,” he said.
Referencing his experience on Pathaan, Anand underlined why trying to engineer success can backfire. “If you start following a success formula, you begin second-guessing what the audience will like. And that will kill you as a filmmaker. We never made Pathaan with that intention or with the dream of achieving the numbers it eventually did. And I think that’s where the magic lies,” he added.
King Release Date, Cast, And What Makes It A Big Deal
Anand also shared that the team is approaching King with a sense of starting from scratch, rather than leaning on past wins. “When you start working only with that belief, that is the downfall. We are working hard on King as if it were our first film. We need to pass the test with the audience again. We are working with that intention. We are aware of expectations, but we don’t succumb to the pressure”, he said.
About Shah Rukh Khan’s King
Beyond the scale and the holiday release corridor, King stands out for another reason: it is set to be the first on screen collaboration between Shah Rukh Khan and Suhana Khan, with Suhana making her theatrical debut. The action thriller is written by Sujoy Ghosh and is produced by Gauri Khan, Siddharth Anand and Mamta Anand under Red Chillies Entertainment and Marflix Pictures.
The film’s ensemble includes Shah Rukh Khan, Suhana Khan, Deepika Padukone and Abhishek Bachchan in lead roles, alongside Anil Kapoor, Jackie Shroff, Arshad Warsi, Rani Mukerji, Jaideep Ahlawat, Abhay Verma, Raghav Juyal and Karanvir Malhotra.
(Also read: Ranveer Singh Cites Baiju Bawra Setback In Don 3 Fee Clash, Brings Up Shah Rukh Khan Angle Over Rs 40 Crore Demand)
Stay tuned with us for the latest news, Hindi box office news, Hollywood news, OTT news, the latest Bollywood news, and the latest box office news.
Related