Now, three years later, Shah Rukh Khan is preparing for his next theatrical release, King, directed by Siddharth Anand and set for a December 24, 2026, release.
The biggest competition for King isn't another film, actor, or storyline — it's Shah Rukh Khan's own box-office history.
Before Pathaan and Jawan, a global collection of ₹300–400 crore was considered impressive.
But Shah Rukh Khan changed the conversation by delivering two massive hits, each exceeding ₹1,000 crore.In doing so, he might have raised the bar so high that even a successful film could now be seen as underwhelming.
Fans and trade observers are already wondering if King can cross ₹1,000 crore, surpass Pathaan, or even beat Jawan.
Imagine a film collecting ₹600–700 crore worldwide.That would be extraordinary for most Hindi films, but might be considered a disappointment simply because Shah Rukh Khan has delivered bigger hits in the past.
King's scale is also a major talking point.
Reports suggest the film is being made on a budget of ₹450 crore, excluding publicity and Shah Rukh Khan's pay.Siddharth Anand later denied these figures, so the actual cost remains unclear.Nevertheless, the film is being positioned as an ambitious action spectacle, and its commercial performance will naturally draw significant attention.
Its December 24 release comes with its own challenges.
The Christmas and New Year period is typically a great time for a big opening, but December 2026 is already packed with major films, including Hollywood blockbusters like Avengers: Doomsday and Dune: Part Three.This competition for screens and premium formats could affect King, especially if it aims for the extended theatrical runs that helped Pathaan and Jawan reach their historic numbers.
Shah Rukh Khan's prolonged absence from the big screen could work in his favour, as audiences haven't seen him in a leading role since Dunki (2023).
However, there's a key difference between his return with Pathaan and his upcoming release.
Pathaan marked his comeback after a difficult phase at the box office, and audiences were eager to see if he could reclaim his position.
With King, there's no such question about his stardom.Instead, audiences are expecting another spectacular entertainer, complete with memorable dialogues, breathtaking action, and larger-than-life moments.
The reunion with Siddharth Anand adds to these expectations.
Having delivered a historic blockbuster together, the two will inevitably face comparisons with Pathaan.The challenge for King will be to offer something fresh rather than merely recreate the formula that worked so brilliantly in 2023.
The film also marks Shah Rukh Khan's much-anticipated big-screen collaboration with his daughter Suhana Khan, which will generate extra curiosity.
However, for the film to succeed beyond the initial excitement, its story, performances, and emotional appeal will have to connect with audiences.
If King earns ₹700 crore worldwide instead of ₹1,000 crore, it wouldn't automatically make the film a failure.
Its actual profitability will depend on production costs, distribution arrangements, marketing expenditure, and revenues from digital, satellite, and music rights.
A movie can make a lot of money at the box office without making a lot of profit, while a film that makes less money can still be very profitable if the costs are kept low.
The funny thing is that Pathaan and Jawan, the movies that brought back Shah Rukh Khan's box office power, might now be the standard people use to judge every new film.
If King makes another movie that earns over 1,000 crores, it will really solidify his amazing career.But if it makes less money and is still a big hit, should that really be seen as a bad result?
After all, no actor, no matter how famous, can be expected to make a record-breaking hit with every movie they act in.
The biggest worry about King isn't that Shah Rukh Khan might fail to make another big hit.
It's that Bollywood has gotten to a point where even a big hit from him might not be seen as good enough anymore.
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