Shah Rukh Khan turns 61 as fans await his December film 'King'
Bollywood's biggest star thanked fans with a handwritten note and gave a glimpse of the action thriller, which reunites him with 'Pathaan' director Siddharth Anand.
By Newsheir Staff, Newsroom
· 1 min read
Shah Rukh Khan, Bollywood's biggest star, celebrated his 61st birthday on Monday, November 2, thanking fans with a handwritten note and offering a glimpse of his next film, the action thriller King.
As every year, crowds gathered outside Mannat, his home in Mumbai, to wish him well. Two lines of dialogue from King were projected outside the house as part of the celebrations, according to reports.
What we know about 'King'
King is due in cinemas on December 24, 2026. It is directed by Siddharth Anand, who made Pathaan (2023), the spy thriller that marked Khan's triumphant return after a four-year break and became one of the highest-grossing Hindi films ever.
The cast includes Khan's daughter Suhana Khan, along with Deepika Padukone, Abhishek Bachchan, Rani Mukerji, Arshad Warsi, Jaideep Ahlawat and Raghav Juyal. The pairing of father and daughter on screen has generated particular excitement.
Reports had suggested that a teaser would be released on his birthday, but the makers had not officially confirmed it.
A global star
Known to fans as SRK or "King Khan", Shah Rukh Khan is one of the most famous actors in the world, with a huge following across South Asia, the Middle East, Africa and the diaspora. His birthday has become an event in its own right: cinemas in the United Arab Emirates have held film festivals in his honour.
After a run of commercial disappointments in the late 2010s, Khan came back in 2023 with three hits: Pathaan, Jawan and Dunki. In 2025 he won his first National Film Award, for best actor, for Jawan.
A big Christmas release
A December 24 release puts King in the lucrative holiday season, when Bollywood studios release their biggest films. Expectations are high: with Anand directing and a star-studded cast, the industry will be watching to see whether it can match the success of Pathaan.
Sources and references
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