Shah Rukh Khan and Siddharth Anand are bringing one of their favorite collaborators on board for ‘King.’ PeepingMoon.com can now confirm that Deepika Padukone has been locked opposite SRK in the ‘Pathaan’ director's next action entertainer, produced by Marflix Productions and Red Chillies Entertainment. 

Deepika will play the mother of Suhana Khan’s character and a former lover of Shah Rukh Khan in what's being described as a revenge action thriller. Although it’s just an extended cameo role, her character is integral to the plot and serves as the primary conflict in the storyline. Both Shah Rukh Khan and Siddharth Anand were keen on casting Deepika for this special character, and she enthusiastically accepted the offer despite it not being a full-fledged lead role. This will mark SRK and Deepika's third consecutive collaboration following their recent blockbusters ‘Pathaan’ and ‘Jawan’ and their sixth overall since Farah Khan’s ‘Om Shanti Om’ (2012). They are expected to reunite again for Yash Raj Films’ ‘Pathaan 2’ next year.

Sources indicate that ‘King’ is based along the lines of ‘Bichhoo’ — the 2000 action thriller starring Bobby Deol and Karisma Kapoor — which itself was an unofficial remake of the 1994 French film, ‘Léon: The Professional’ (1994). Although ‘King’ is not a remake, as is being speculated, it shares a similar premise, with Shah Rukh Khan supposedly playing a seasoned assassin who embarks on a vengeful journey alongside Suhana Khan’s character after a devastating tragedy upends her life.

Sources also reveal that ‘King’ has undergone substantial script revisions since Sujoy Ghosh stepped down and Siddharth Anand assumed directorial duties. What was initially a taut, edge-of-the-seat action thriller with SRK only in an extended cameo role has now evolved into a quintessential Shah Rukh Khan film, replete with high-octane action, romance, and thrilling sequences, aligning perfectly with the hallmarks of a typical Siddharth Anand action entertainer. We also heard that Saif Ali Khan and Tabu were once considered for the roles of Suhana’s parents, but the idea was eventually scrapped. 

Deepika's casting adds more star power and gravitas to this already high-profile project, further elevating audience anticipation surrounding this latest SRK-Siddharth Anand collaboration. Adding to the excitement, Abhishek Bachchan plays the menacing villain, while ‘Munjya’ fame Abhay Verma also features in a pivotal role. The pre-production of the film is going on in full swing and is set to get off the ground next month in Mumbai, targeting a theatrical release in late 2026.