Mumbai: Speculation regarding the massive production budget of Shah Rukh Khan’s upcoming action-thriller King has been swiftly addressed by the film’s director, Siddharth Anand. Following widespread media reports claiming that the film was being mounted on a staggering budget of ₹450 crore, the director took to social media to dismiss the figures as inaccurate.
The rumors began circulating on Wednesday after trade reports suggested that the project had evolved into the most expensive venture of the superstar’s career, surpassing the budgets of his previous blockbusters Jawan and Pathaan. These reports claimed the ₹450 crore figure excluded print and publicity costs as well as Shah Rukh Khan’s acting fee.
However, Siddharth Anand responded to the viral claims with a brief but pointed post on X (formerly Twitter), where he simply wrote “Lies.” While the director did not explicitly detail the production costs, his reaction has been widely interpreted by fans and industry observers as a direct rebuttal to the reports claiming the film is Bollywood’s most expensive project.
King remains one of the most highly anticipated films of the year, marking Shah Rukh Khan’s return to the big screen. The film, which features his daughter Suhana Khan alongside him, is expected to be a high-octane action spectacle. Production for the project commenced in May 2025 and is currently in its final stages, with the team having shot extensively across various international locations over the past year.
Despite the conflicting reports surrounding the budget, excitement for the film remains at an all-time high. The movie is being produced by Red Chillies Entertainment in association with Marflix Pictures and is slated for a theatrical release during the Christmas window of 2026. As the film nears its completion, the industry continues to closely watch every development of what is poised to be a major cinematic event.