Shah Rukh Khan spoke to Aditya Chopra before signing Phars Films for King international rights

Phars Films has taken over the international distribution rights for Shah Rukh Khan's upcoming film, King, which Yash Raj Films was originally supposed to handle abroad. A team source revealed that Shah Rukh Khan personally called Yash Raj Films head Aditya Chopra to explain the shift before closing the deal.

Behind the Deal

Shah Rukh Khan and Aditya Chopra share a long history, starting when the actor starred in the 1995 directorial debut Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, which still runs at Mumbai's Maratha Mandir. The actor also bonded closely with Aditya's late filmmaker father, Yash Chopra. During their phone call, Aditya Chopra understood the situation, gave up the overseas rights, and wished the star success while sharing his excitement to watch the film this Christmas.

Music and Cast Updates

Composer Anirudh Ravichander left the project due to a busy schedule, but he handed over the theme track to Shah Rukh Khan as a mark of respect before stepping away. The composer duo Sachin-Jigar will now remake that track to serve as the base for the film's background score. Meanwhile, T-Series grabbed the exclusive global commercial music rights for 50 years through an agreement facilitated by Red Chillies Entertainment and Zee Music Company. The star-studded cast features Deepika Padukone, Rani Mukerji, Abhishek Bachchan, Jaideep Ahlawat, and Anil Kapoor alongside Shah Rukh Khan, with a promotional asset slated for release on November 2 for the actor's birthday.

Context

Film distribution changes and behind-the-scenes music updates are common during the production of large-scale Bollywood projects. Major stars often maintain close personal ties across competing production houses, reflecting the collaborative nature of the Indian film industry.