The filming of Shah Rukh Khan's "King" is nearing completion. The makers are in the process of prepping the climactic action sequences.
After a slight complication due to the ongoing turbulent situation in the Middle East, it was decided to cancel filming plans in Dubai and move instead to Mumbai and South Africa. These locations are said to host the team to pull off a crucial setpiece.
According to a source quoted by Variety India, director Siddharth Anand and Shah Rukh Khan will move to South Africa to shoot what is expected to take around 18 days, split into two schedules — a week in South Africa, and 10 days in Mumbai. Deepika Padukone and Abhishek Bachchan will be joining SRK and Suhana for these sequences.
“Siddharth Anand has planned highly stylised and elaborate action set pieces for the climax," said the source. "The South Africa schedule is ready to roll, while another team is already preparing for the Mumbai schedule. SRK, Suhana Khan, Deepika Padukone and Abhishek Bachchan will all be part of these sequences.”
The film sees SRK and Deepika — one of the most celebrated onscreen pairings in Bollywood — reuniting once again after blockbuster outings "Pathaan" and "Jawaan". She made her acting debut opposite the superstar in "Om Shanti Om".
The climax is expected to finish shooting by mid-May, with additional filming expected to be done by September. The "King" has once again confirmed that they are bringing it out on Christmas 2026.
"King" has the advantage of a lavish budget. The makers want to ensure a glorious theatrical experience. Bollywood Hungama had earlier mentioned a budget of Rs 350 crores, excluding the sum for marketing and other additional expenses.
"What takes millions of dollars for the West to execute, Siddharth Anand is aiming to do the same at 1/5th the cost. The initial budget was Rs. 150 crores only, but the script had scope to go bigger and better," the source had told Bollywood Hungama. "When Siddharth Anand came into the picture, he sat down with SRK to make the film on a grand scale, by designing action sequences on a never-before scale. SRK is a producer who loves to spend and treat audiences with the richest spectacle. He gave Sid a free hand, and the director came back with a budget of Rs. 350 crores."
The report also described "King" as a "global film made in India" with around six major action set pieces.
