Shah Rukh Khan’s King has set a new record before its release. The film’s overseas theatrical rights have been sold for a massive ₹175 Cr, the biggest overseas deal ever for an Indian film.
The Record Deal
- Overseas Rights: ₹175 Cr
- Overseas Break-Even: around $45M gross
To recover that amount, King will need to gross around $45 million in overseas markets.
A Club of Only Four
Very few Indian films have ever crossed $45M overseas, leaving aside Dangal and others whose overseas totals were driven by China.
- Baahubali 2
- Pathaan
- Jawan
- Dhurandhar 2
Two of these four are Shah Rukh Khan films.
SRK’s Overseas Power
Take away the sequels, Baahubali 2 and Dhurandhar 2, and only Pathaan and Jawan have crossed this mark. Both belong to Shah Rukh Khan.
That’s exactly why distributors are willing to bet so big on King. Shah Rukh is undoubtedly the biggest Indian star in overseas markets, with a fan base across North America, the Middle East, the UK, Europe and beyond. Many of the biggest overseas records for Indian cinema belong to him.
Christmas Release
King is set to release this Christmas. The holiday period is one of the biggest box office windows in many overseas markets, which gives the film the perfect setting to chase its target.
A Big Bet
₹175 Cr is a huge amount for overseas rights, and $45M is a target only a handful of Indian films have ever reached. But with Shah Rukh’s track record, the trade believes King has a real shot at joining that list.
If it gets there, King will cement Shah Rukh’s position as the undisputed overseas king of Indian cinema.