Even as big-budget South Indian films dominate the domestic market with their pan-India releases, Shah Rukh Khan continues to rule the overseas box office. His upcoming film, ‘King’, is the latest proof. According to a new report, its overseas theatrical rights have been acquired for a staggering Rs 175 crore, setting a fresh record for Indian cinema. The deal highlights the actor’s unmatched global appeal and the enduring loyalty of his international fans.
Phars Films pays record Rs 175 crore for Shah Rukh Khan’s ‘King’
According to Pinkvilla, Phars Films has secured the overseas distribution rights for ‘King’ at Rs 175 crore, which is over $18 million. Until now, Yash Raj Films has handled the international release of Shah Rukh Khan’s films, successfully doing so for both ‘Pathaan’, produced under its own banner, and ‘Jawan’ in 2023. Phars, however, is no newcomer to the overseas market. It has worked alongside YRF on several titles and independently distributed Prabhas’ ‘Saaho’. The report adds that Phars has paid a minimum guarantee of Rs 175 crore for the rights. Considering that no Indian film has crossed the Rs 100 crore mark overseas so far, the figure is truly staggering.
What Shah Rukh Khan’s ‘King’ must earn to break even
The minimum guarantee a distributor pays reflects the distributor’s confidence in a film’s box-office run. Since overseas distributors typically keep just 50% of the gross, King would need to collect roughly $37-40 million, or about Rs 350-375 crore, internationally merely to break even. For perspective, Khan’s biggest hits, ‘Pathaan’ and ‘Jawan’, each brought in close to Rs 400 crore abroad, so ‘King’ must match that, or better it, to turn a profit. With such a steep guarantee, the film’s overseas earnings would need to rival those of ‘Dhurandhar 2’ (₹460 crore) or ‘RRR’ (Rs 430 crore), both among the biggest international successes Indian cinema has ever seen.
Shah Rukh Khan’s ‘King’: Cast, director and release date
Directed by Siddharth Anand, ‘King’ has Shah Rukh Khan headlining the cast, reuniting the pair after their 2023 hit Pathaan. The ensemble also includes Deepika Padukone, Abhishek Bachchan, Rani Mukerji, Jaideep Ahlawat, Raghav Juyal and Saurabh Shukla. Notably, the film brings Shah Rukh together on screen with his daughter Suhana Khan for the first time, following her acting debut in The Archies in 2023. King is set to hit theatres on December 24.