Bollywood
King India Theatrical Rights: Shah Rukh Khan Starrer Sparks Bidding War; ₹200 Crore Advance Offer on Table
Following the official announcement earlier this week that Yash Raj Films (YRF) will handle the international distribution for the action spectacle King, the spotlight has now shifted to the film's domestic theatrical rights. In a major exclusive report by Pinkvilla, it has been revealed that the trade is currently abuzz with a record-shattering distribution offer. Starring Shah Rukh Khan alongside Suhana Khan, the project has reportedly sparked an intense bidding war among India's leading distribution studios, with financial proposals reaching levels rarely seen in the Indian film industry. According to the exclusive details shared by Pinkvilla, the proposed top offer currently under discussion involves a staggering ₹200 crore advance coupled with an 8% distribution commission. This represents one of the largest commission-based deals in recent times, aligning with the modern industry norm where acquisition models have taken a backseat to partnership-based structures. This high-value deal reflects the massive confidence the trade has in the theatrical pull of the Shah Rukh Khan brand following his record-breaking run in 2023. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Historic India Theatrical Distribution Benchmarks 1. Pathaan (2023): Self-Distributed (Handled in-house by YRF;) 2. Jawan (2023): ₹125 Cr - ₹150 Cr Advance (North/West India only; Distributed by Pen Marudhar) 3. Pushpa 2: The Rule (2024): ₹200 Cr (North India) (Acquired by AA Films on a Minimum Guarantee (MG) basis—the highest for a dubbed film) 4. King (2026): ₹200 Cr Advance Offer (The highest-ever proposed Advance for a solo SRK film on an 8% commission deal) Several major studios are in contention for the pan-India rights, including A.A. Films, Yash Raj Films, and Dharma Productions. However, Pinkvilla reports that Pen Marudhar, Jio Studios, and PVRINOX Pictures have emerged as the primary front-runners at this stage. Pen Marudhar holds a significant advantage due to its frequent and successful association with Red Chillies Entertainment, having previously distributed Jawan and Dunki. Meanwhile, PVRINOX Pictures remains a strong contender due to its status as the owner of the largest multiplex chain in the country, and Jio Studios is aggressively looking to add this high-profile asset to its dominant 2026 theatrical slate. Directed by Siddharth Anand and produced by Red Chillies Entertainment in association with Marflix Pictures, King is being mounted as a global action event. The film marks the highly anticipated theatrical debut of Suhana Khan, with Abhishek Bachchan confirmed to play the primary antagonist. With the overseas market already locked by YRF and a ₹200 crore bidding war underway for the Indian domestic market, King is positioned to be the most significant theatrical event of the December 24, 2026 (Christmas) window.