Did Siddharth Anand CONFIRM reports of Deepika Padukone being roped in for Shah Rukh Khan starrer KING?

Shah Rukh Khan’s next action biggie King is shaping up to be one of the most anticipated projects in his lineup — and now, it’s officially got its leading lady. Deepika Padukone has come on board for the film in a substantial role, not just a fleeting cameo, putting an end to the months-long speculation around the casting.

The project, directed by Siddharth Anand, is expected to go on floors in May 2025. As reported by Pinkvilla, Initially, there were concerns about Deepika’s availability due to her maternity break, which had opened the door for names like Kareena Kapoor Khan and Katrina Kaif to be considered. But with the shoot of King getting delayed, dates fell into place — and Deepika is now locked in. According to sources close to the development, Shah Rukh was always keen on bringing Deepika into the project. The duo has delivered multiple successful films together, and King aims to be another high-octane addition to their collaborative track record. Deepika is expected to start shooting in the second half of the year and will reportedly have a full-length character arc in the story.

Interestingly, the unofficial confirmation came in the form of a cryptic tweet from Siddharth Anand. Reacting to early reports about Deepika’s casting, the filmmaker first posted a puzzling “True. And False.” Later, after the story was updated, he tweeted again: “Ab true.” A classic Anand move — dodging formal announcements in favour of viral one-liners. Apart from Shah Rukh and Deepika, the cast of King includes Suhana Khan, Abhishek Bachchan, Arshad Warsi, and Abhay Verma. The film is slated for a late 2026 theatrical release.

As for Deepika, this will mark one of her first big projects post-pregnancy. She’s also confirmed for Kalki 2898 AD: Part 2, and continues to be linked to other massive productions — including Atlee’s rumoured collaboration with Allu Arjun, though there’s been no official word on that yet.

Looks like 2026 might just be Deepika’s big-screen comeback year — and King is where it all begins.