Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan has declared his upcoming film 'King' a “pan-world” project while highlighting the growing global influence of Indian cinema.
On the occasion of his birthday, the actor hosted an intimate fan event in the city, where he expressed his deep gratitude to Indian audiences and credited them for his international success. During a Q&A with his fans, the actor took a question from a lady who flew in from the US, just to be a part of the festivities. Sharing how the actor's popularity grew over the past year with his blockbuster releases like 'Pathaan' and 'Jawan', the lady said, "You are not just pan-India, but pan-world. That would be a pan-world superstar."
When asked if he plans on making his films 'more global', Khan replied, "I'm taking India to places which weren’t possible before,” he said, adding, "I think India, Indians, the subcontinent, I think these are the people who have taken me to places I thought was impossible for me."
He emphasized that his goal has always been to expand Indian cinema’s reach, as language barriers have become less significant in recent years. He said, "The idea has always been where we can take our films, because now language doesn't seem to be a barrier now. Inshallah, there will be many more people who are trying to take Indian cinema way forward."
In the video, Khan also spoke about the need for originality in Indian storytelling to resonate with global audiences. "We need to write stories that touch hearts while being of high quality,” he noted, expressing optimism about the direction Indian cinema is headed. He shared that he’s “trying his best” to contribute to this evolution.
The actor also revealed that the choice to title his upcoming film 'King' in English was deliberate, intended to make the film’s message resonate beyond India’s borders. “I now title my films in English so that people in America know what it means,” he said, adding with a smile, “Take a message back home from India: 'The King is coming'."
'King', directed by Sujoy Ghosh, is set to release mid-2026. The film see the actor starring alongside his daughter Suhana Khan and actor Abhishek Bachchan.
