Siddharth Anand reunites with Shah Rukh Khan for ‘King’ after Pathaan’s success. He says they’re working on it like their first film, aware of expectations but unfazed by pressure. Inspired by Aditya Dhar’s ‘Dhurandhar’, which he called “a nasha,” Siddharth values fearlessness in filmmaking. King releases December 24, 2026.

Shah Rukh Khan and director Siddharth Anand are joining hands once again after the blockbuster success of ‘Pathaan’ (2023), which marked SRK’s grand comeback to the screen. Their new film, ‘King’, features Suhana Khan, Deepika Padukone, Abhishek Bachchan, and Rani Mukerji. The project has already created a huge buzz among fans and is one of the most anticipated releases of the year. With ‘Pathaan’ setting such high standards, expectations are soaring, but Siddharth says he feels no extra pressure and understands exactly what fans are looking.

Siddharth Anand talks about pressure and creative freedom

During a chat with Variety India, Siddharth opened up about the immense expectations surrounding his upcoming film, especially since it stars the iconic Shah Rukh Khan. He admitted that while he’s aware of the audience’s hopes, he doesn’t let that dictate his creative choices. For Siddharth, focusing too much on what viewers might want can stifle his artistic freedom. Reflecting on his approach to ‘King’, he said, “We are working hard on King as if it were our first film. We need to pass the test again with the audience. We are working with that intention. We are aware of expectations, but we don’t succumb to the pressure.”

Siddharth Anand reveals what he learnt from ‘Dhurandhar’

In December, Siddharth praised Aditya Dhar’s film ‘Dhurandhar’, describing it as a “nasha” that leaves viewers wanting more. When asked what he learned from the movie, Siddharth said, “What I learnt and took away from it is bravery as a filmmaker and, again, the fearlessness of not catering to anything that is the demand of the box office. And that the box office will follow. Just be fearless.”

About ‘Dhurandhar’

‘Dhurandhar’, starring Ranveer Singh, Akshaye Khanna, Arjun Rampal, R. Madhavan, Sanjay Dutt, Sara Arjun, and Rakesh Bedi, shattered box-office records and became the year’s biggest success. Excitement is now building for its sequel, ‘Dhurandhar: The Revenge’, which will hit screens on March 19. Around the same time, moviegoers are also gearing up for ‘King’, scheduled for a grand Christmas release on December 24.