Shah Rukh Khan released a new poster for his film King on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, and the image quickly divided social media. The poster shows Khan with grey hair and a beard, walking through fire with a gun in one hand and a red rose between his teeth. While many fans praised the intense look, a large group of users compared the fiery backdrop and framing to Ranveer Singh’s Dhurandhar: The Revenge poster from earlier this year. Others questioned the visual quality, calling the image heavily edited and possibly AI-generated.
What the New King Poster Shows
Khan shared the poster on his official Instagram and X accounts with a caption that references his 1999 film Baadshah. The line reads: “Aaj phir yaad aaya… Qaatil nahi… Aashiq hoon… #KING In cinemas 24.12.26” . Translated, it means he is not a killer but a lover, a phrase that also appears in the title track of the older film.
The image itself is built on contrast. Khan wears a distressed leather jacket with an unbuttoned shirt, holds a handgun, and keeps a calm expression while a burning aircraft sits behind him. Rose petals are scattered in the air, mixing a romantic symbol with an action setting. The film is scheduled to reach cinemas on December 24, 2026, a Christmas release.
Why People Are Comparing It to Dhurandhar 2
Similarities between the two posters became the main talking point. Dhurandhar: The Revenge, released on March 19, 2026, had a poster showing Ranveer Singh’s character walking toward the camera in dark clothing against a blazing red backdrop. Users pointed to the shared elements: a central male figure, fire in the background, and a similar colour grade.
One X user wrote, “You can try to copy the aesthetic, the fire, and the frame, but you can never be Dhurandhar @iamsrk. ShahRukh Khan #King Poster is Cheap AI-generated Slop” . Another comment read, “Every masterpiece has its cheap copy” . A different user posted, “The official #King poster has been copied from the #Dhurandhar2 poster….But even after copying, SRK looks like a joker in this poster” .
Not every reaction followed that line. One fan pushed back at the copy claims, writing, “Knew someone would drag Dhurandhar into this. Not every similar looking poster is a copy, bro. If you’ve got actual proof, show it. Otherwise, comparing two posters and yelling ‘copy’ isn’t the flex you think it is” .
Some users also saw a likeness to the 2021 Hong Kong action film Raging Fire, starring Donnie Yen, particularly in the fire-ring visual and action styling.
The AI Editing Criticism
A separate wave of criticism focused on how the poster was made rather than what it showed. Social media platforms including X and Reddit filled with comments about unconvincing editing, airbrushed skin textures, and unnatural lighting around Khan’s face and the background. One user said the poster looked like someone had repeatedly asked ChatGPT to “make it mass”.
The phrase “cheap AI-generated slop” appeared in multiple posts and was picked up by several news outlets covering the reaction. No official statement from Khan or the production team has confirmed or denied the use of AI tools in the poster’s creation.
Fans Who Liked the Poster
Supporters of Khan focused on the mood the poster creates. Many described it as a “massy” image that suits a large-scale action film. One fan wrote, “The caption itself ‘Qaatil nahi Aashiq hoon’ is more than enough to let us know what kind of brutal character this is going to be. Massy poster” . Another posted, “The Poster is too Damn Powerfull to make sure #King Breaks the 100 Cr india Nett in its opening day Bring it on …..!!!! The King of Indian cinema is here” .
A different supporter said, “SHAH RUKH KHAN IS HERE IN & AS KING. Just the kind of intense start I was looking for, and it’s here in full force” .
What We Know About King
King is directed by Siddharth Anand, who previously worked with Khan on Pathaan. The film is produced by Red Chillies Entertainment and Marflix Pictures. The cast includes Suhana Khan, Deepika Padukone, Abhishek Bachchan, Rani Mukerji, Jaideep Ahlawat, Arshad Warsi, Anil Kapoor, Raghav Juyal, and Saurabh Shukla.
The project marks the first on-screen pairing of Shah Rukh Khan and his daughter Suhana Khan, who made her acting debut in The Archies in 2023. Khan described his character in the film as “ruthless and grey” during a fan event on his 60th birthday, and spoke about his long history of playing morally complex roles in films such as Darr, Baazigar, and Anjaam.
King arrives after Khan’s three theatrical releases in 2023 — Pathaan, Jawan, and Dunki. The film will open in cinemas worldwide on December 24, 2026.
Related Stories
View all articles about
About the Dhurandhar 2 Poster and Its Success
Dhurandhar: The Revenge is the sequel to the 2025 film Dhurandhar and was directed by Aditya Dhar. The March poster showed Ranveer Singh in a black trench coat with loose hair, standing centre-frame against a red backdrop, with the caption “THE WRATH OF GOD IS COMING” . The film grossed over Rs 1,800 crore worldwide, becoming one of the highest-earning Hindi films of all time.
The King poster debate follows a similar pattern seen with Khan’s earlier promotional material. The first King poster, revealed on November 2, 2025, carried the line “Darr nahi, dehshat hoon” and showed Khan in a silver-haired action avatar. That image also drew comparisons online, though the new poster has generated a larger response because of the direct visual overlap with Dhurandhar 2.
Khan addressed the wait for the film’s trailer during a recent AskSRK session. He said, “Ab picture hi dekho na! Tarsa nahi raha join acchhi wali bana raha hoon….ke Dil ko tasalli mile….Sab ayega…24th Dec se pehle” . The line, roughly translated, asks viewers to trust that the team is making a good film and that everything will arrive before December 24.
Stay with VvipTimes for clear, fact-checked updates on the films everyone is talking about.
Leave a Reply