'King' sparks film trade debate

Shah Rukh Khan's upcoming film 'King' is drawing attention ahead of its December 24 release, with controversies surrounding its first song 'Tu Mil Jaaye' bringing the film into the spotlight while raising questions about the growing presence of Indian cinema in Bangladesh and the limited reach of Bangladeshi films in the Indian market.

Directed by Siddharth Anand, the film is produced by Gauri Khan under the banner of Red Chillies Entertainment, along with Marflix Pictures. It stars Shah Rukh Khan alongside Deepika Padukone, Suhana Khan, Abhishek Bachchan, Rani Mukerji and several other prominent actors. The film is scheduled for a worldwide theatrical release on December 24, 2026, with Phars Film handling its overseas distribution.

The first song from the film, 'Tu Mil Jaaye', featuring vocals by British singer Ed Sheeran, was released on November 2, Shah Rukh Khan's 61st birthday. The track also features Arijit Singh and Madhubanti Bagchi. However, it soon became a subject of discussion on social media over its visuals, styling and musical composition.

One of the major controversies emerged over Deepika Padukone's saffron-coloured outfit in the song. Some critics linked the colour and styling to religious sentiments, drawing comparisons with the controversy surrounding the song 'Besharam Rang' from Shah Rukh Khan's 'Pathaan'. The criticism also revived debates over the use of religious symbolism in Bollywood films.

The song also faced criticism over alleged similarities between its melody and popular Bengali song 'Ami Shunechi Sedin Tumi' by singer-songwriter Moushumi Bhowmik. Social media users pointed out similarities between the two tracks, although Bhowmik said she did not particularly find the songs similar in the way some listeners had suggested.

Beyond the controversies, 'King' is also drawing attention in Bangladesh, where Indian films have found a growing theatrical market in recent years.

However, an official confirmation of a Bangladesh-specific release date or local distributor for 'King' was not available at the time of writing. The film's makers and overseas distributor have announced its international release on December 24.

The same date also appears on the release calendar for another Bollywood production, 'Shakti Shalini', although its final release schedule remains subject to confirmation.

The potential arrival of another major Bollywood production in Bangladesh has renewed questions about the balance of film trade between the two neighbouring countries.

Indian films have been imported into Bangladesh under the South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA) framework, which allows commercial film exchanges between member countries. Under the arrangement, imported films are generally linked to the export of Bangladeshi films to the respective market.

In 2024, Bollywood film 'Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3' was released in Bangladesh in exchange for Bangladeshi film 'Raat Jaga Phool'. Earlier, 'Stree 2' was also imported in exchange for the export of 'Prohelika'.

Bangladeshi films have also reached Indian theatres through exchange arrangements. In 2016, 'Chuye Dile Mon' was released in West Bengal alongside Indian film 'Bela Sheshe' in Bangladesh.

Despite these exchanges, the presence of Bangladeshi films in the Indian market remains limited compared with the reach of Indian productions in Bangladesh.

Industry observers have long raised concerns over distribution networks, marketing investment, commercial opportunities and regulatory barriers that affect the cross-border movement of films.

The question remains whether the existing film exchange arrangements can ensure meaningful access for Bangladeshi productions in India's much larger theatrical market.

As 'King' approaches its global release, the discussion goes beyond the popularity of a Bollywood superstar. It also highlights a broader challenge for Bangladesh's film industry: securing a stronger position in the regional market while maintaining a sustainable domestic cinema industry.