After three consecutive blockbusters last year that collectively amassed over 2,600 crores at the worldwide box office, Shah Rukh Khan is now focused on King — a tentpole action thriller, directed by Kahaani fame Sujoy Ghosh and produced by Pathaan director Siddharth Anand. As the film gears up for production in three months, the makers are ensuring it's every bit as enormous and lavish as Pathaan and Jawan and are assembling a huge ensemble cast to bring this vision to life. 

Peepingmoon.com has exclusively learned that Abhishek Bachchan has been roped in to play the antagonist opposite SRK in this big-scale action entertainer. Although the specifics of his character arc are being kept under wraps, we have heard that he would play a sophisticated villain facing off against Shah Rukh's mafia persona. SRK's daughter Suhana Khan plays the parallel lead alongside him, essaying the role of a young girl who finds herself in perilous circumstances after a life-altering incident. 

“Abhishek is an actor whose full potential has yet to be fully realized. He has the ability to astonish audiences when given complex roles. King presents him in an out-and-out negative role for the first time in such a large-scale commercial movie, and he is sure to make a significant impact with his performance. The Jr. Bachchan was surprised when he was offered this role but accepted it immediately, intrigued by the depth of his character. It’s a special role, and Siddharth Anand has grand plans to present Abhishek in a manner audiences have never seen before,” a source close to the development told us, adding that Abhishek’s casting brings a fresh dynamic to the film and significantly heightens the anticipation surrounding it. 

SRK and Abhishek have previously worked together on Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna and Happy New Year, but this new collaboration is far more intriguing as it's the first time they'll be pitted against each other on screen. For Abhishek, it marks his second collaboration with Sujoy Ghosh after he starred in the latter's production, Bob Biswas, while it’s his first project with Siddharth Anand. The film is currently in pre-production and is expected to get off the ground in October–November this year, targeting a late 2025 or early 2026 release. Siddharth produces this film under his Marflix banner, in association with SRK’s Red Chillies Entertainment.