On January 5, 2026, Deepika Padukone celebrated her 40th birthday, and a poster claiming to be from her upcoming movie "King" went viral on social media, leaving fans wondering about its authenticity. The poster, shared by an X (formerly Twitter) user, quickly spread, fueled by anticipation of a possible film announcement or first look reveal on her birthday.
The buzz around "King" has been considerable, especially after the release of Shah Rukh Khan's first look on his birthday, which generated significant excitement. This led many to believe that the makers would follow a similar strategy for Deepika Padukone.
"King" is an upcoming Hindi-language action film directed by Siddharth Anand. The film is produced by Gauri Khan, Siddharth Anand, and Mamta Anand under the banners of Red Chillies Entertainment and Marflix Pictures. The movie features Shah Rukh Khan and his daughter Suhana Khan, marking Suhana's theatrical debut, alongside Deepika Padukone, Abhishek Bachchan, Anil Kapoor, Jackie Shroff, Arshad Warsi, and Rani Mukerji in supporting roles.
The film's development gained momentum after the success of "Pathaan" in 2023, with reports suggesting a collaboration between Shah Rukh Khan and Sujoy Ghosh for an action thriller. The title "King," initially held by Sajid Nadiadwala, was later acquired by Red Chillies Entertainment.
Deepika Padukone's inclusion in the cast was confirmed in April 2025, adding to the film's star power. Principal photography commenced in May 2025, with filming taking place in Mumbai and Warsaw. The film's music is composed by Anirudh Ravichander. "King" is slated for a theatrical release in 2026.
Adding fuel to the fire, fans have speculated whether Deepika's involvement in "King" was a response to her departure from the "Kalki 2898 AD" sequel. This speculation arose after Vyjayanthi Movies cited "inability to find a partnership" as the reason for her exit. Deepika then shared a photo on Instagram holding Shah Rukh Khan's hand, emphasizing the importance of the movie-making experience and the people involved.
While neither the makers of the film nor Deepika have confirmed the authenticity of the viral poster, anticipation for Deepika Padukone's first look in "King" remains high.
