King-sized budget of Rs 350 cr
Shah Rukh Khan and Deepika Padukone’s upcoming action thriller King is shaping up to be one of the most expensive Indian films ever mounted, with reports claiming that the Siddharth Anand directorial venture carries a budget of nearly Rs 350 crore, excluding print and publicity costs. The film, which also marks Suhana Khan’s big-screen debut, was initially envisioned as a smaller action thriller, with Sujoy Ghosh directing and Shah Rukh making an extended cameo. However, the project reportedly ballooned after Siddharth came on board. According to a BollywoodHungama report, SRK gave the director a free hand. King is slated to release in 2026.
Deepika Padukone (right) Suhana Khan
Bollywood’s other expensive films
‘Ramayana’ (Part 1 & 2) : Rs 835 crore
‘Adipurush’ : Rs 600 crore approximately
‘Kalki 2898 AD’: reportedly over Rs 600 crore
‘Brahmastra: Part One – Shiva’: Rs 410 crore approximately
‘Tiger 3’: Rs 300 crore approximately
Moment of pride for the short
Deepak Tijori and Pooja Batra. Pics/AFP, Instagram
Pooja Batra is soaking in a proud French Riviera moment after her short film Echoes of Us was screened at the Cannes Film Festival, which commenced on May 12. Pooja shared glimpses from the festival with Iulia Vantur and Deepak Tijori on Instagram. Expressing her gratitude, she wrote, “Thank you Cannes Film Festival and Marche Du Film for the amazing experience. So proud to be screening my short Echoes of Us in Cannes with my amazing team. Thanks for everything (sic).”
‘Make filmmaking sustainable’
Kamal Haasan
Kamal Haasan has urged the Indian film industry to reassess its spending habits amid the economic strain caused by the West Asia conflict. The actor-politician criticised the industry’s “inflated entourage culture” and unnecessary luxury spending. “Why must every love story bloom only in Paris?” he asked, taking a swipe at Bollywood’s obsession with expensive foreign shoots. Kamal stressed that rising production costs and inflation could hit workers and crew members the hardest. He urged filmmakers to prioritise discipline and sustainable filmmaking.
