King: Deepika Padukone to play Suhana Khan's mother and Shah Rukh Khan's ex-lover?

Every project that Shah Rukh Khan and Siddharth Anand work on together takes their partnership to the next level. The actor-director team is teaming up again for their next big hit, King, an action entertainer produced by Marflix Productions and Red Chillies Entertainment. One of their favourite collaborators, Deepika Padukone, is officially joining the squad, as confirmed by Peeping Moon.

Deepika Padukone joins King

King is planned to be Deepika's sixth feature with SRK, and she will play a significant role in the film, albeit in what is being called an "extended cameo" that is essential to the plot. She will star as the superstar's ex-lover and the mother of Suhana Khan's character in the revenge action movie. According to a source, her character is crucial to the plot and the main tension in the storyline, even though it's merely an extended cameo part.

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Despite the part not being a full-fledged lead, Deepika "enthusiastically accepted the offer" because SRK and Anand were reportedly keen on casting her. Pathaan and Jawan were huge successes starring them together, and next year, they'll likely reunite for Pathaan 2 under Yash Raj Films.

Suhana Khan's theatrical debut

With Suhana's upcoming theatrical debut alongside her father in a high-stakes, emotionally charged tale, King has been creating tremendous interest. Some have speculated that the film's themes are similar to those of Bichhoo (2000), which was "an unofficial remake of the 1994 French film, Léon: The Professional." Despite speculation to the contrary, King is not a remake. It follows a similar plot, with Shah Rukh supposedly playing a seasoned assassin who, after a tragic event disrupts her life, sets out on a revenge mission alongside Suhana Khan's character.

There have also been major shifts happening in the background. When Sujoy Ghosh resigned as director of King, Anand took over. Since then, Anand has heavily revised the script. The source told the entertainment portal that what started out as a nail-biting action thriller with SRK in a cameo role has transformed into a film that showcases the superstar at his best, with all the hallmarks of an action entertainer from Anand, including high-octane action, romance, and exciting sequences.

Final cast

Curiously, Saif Ali Khan and Tabu were almost cast as Suhana's parents, but that notion was eventually scrapped. However, the final cast continues to impress. Breakout sensation Abhay Verma (from Munjya) plays a crucial role, and the film also stars Shah Rukh, Suhana, and Deepika with Abhishek Bachchan, who plays the film's terrifying antagonist.

King will start shooting next month once pre-production wraps in Mumbai. Expected to be another explosive instalment in Shah Rukh's action hero comeback, the film is aiming for a spectacular theatrical release in late 2026.

ALSO READ: King update: Shah Rukh Khan's next to now go on floors in June 2025, Siddharth Anand reworking script for a grand vision