Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan’s upcoming film King has reportedly secured a record-breaking overseas distribution deal worth Indian Rs. 175 crore (INR 1.75 billion), setting a new benchmark for Indian cinema.
According to NDTV Profit, Dubai-based Phars Films has acquired the international theatrical distribution rights for the film under a minimum guarantee agreement worth INR 175 crore.
The reported agreement is the highest overseas minimum guarantee ever offered for an Indian film, with no previous Indian production having crossed the INR 100 crore mark for such a deal.
Phars Films is expected to take over international distribution from Yash Raj Films (YRF), which previously handled the overseas releases of Shah Rukh Khan’s blockbusters Pathaan, Jawan and Dunki.
Under the new arrangement, Phars Films is expected to directly manage distribution in the Middle East while working with local distributors in other international markets, including North America and Europe.
The reported agreement also places significant commercial expectations on King, which will need strong international box-office collections to recover the investment.
Directed by Siddharth Anand, who previously collaborated with Shah Rukh Khan on Pathaan, the film features an ensemble cast including Deepika Padukone, Suhana Khan, Abhishek Bachchan, Anil Kapoor and Rani Mukerji.
The film is scheduled for worldwide theatrical release on December 24, 2026, during the Christmas holiday season. (Newswire)