Shah Rukh Khan turns 61, releases King song with Arijit Singh, Ed Sheeran
By Aditi KulkarniEducation Writer, Peepals Bharat
Representative image: MolnarSzabolcsErdely / Pixabay
On his 61st birthday on 2 November 2026, Shah Rukh Khan released King's first song featuring Arijit Singh and Ed Sheeran; the film opens on 24 December.
What Happened
Shah Rukh Khan turned 61 on Monday, 2 November 2026, and marked the day by releasing "Tu Mil Jaaye Toh", the first song from his upcoming film King. The track, which features Arijit Singh and British singer Ed Sheeran and pairs Khan again with Deepika Padukone on screen, came out at midnight. On the night of Sunday, 1 November, his Mumbai home Mannat was lit up with giant projections of visuals and dialogues from King, a birthday countdown and a handwritten note from the actor to his fans. King, directed by Siddharth Anand, is set to release in cinemas on 24 December 2026.
Key Facts
- Shah Rukh Khan turned 61 on 2 November 2026.
- The first song from King, "Tu Mil Jaaye Toh", was released at midnight on his birthday.
- The song features singers Arijit Singh and Ed Sheeran, and shows Khan with Deepika Padukone.
- Mannat, his home in Mumbai, was lit with projections of the film's visuals and lines such as "King Akela Kaafi Hai" and "Darr Nahi, Dehshat Hoon".
- A handwritten message from Khan and a birthday countdown were also projected on the building.
- Khan shared a new poster with the caption "Aaj phir yaad aaya...Qaatil nahi… Aashiq hoon…#KING".
- King is directed by Siddharth Anand and is due in theatres on 24 December 2026.
Why It Matters
Shah Rukh Khan's birthday has become one of the biggest fan events in Hindi cinema. Every year, thousands of people gather outside Mannat hoping to see him wave from the gate. This year the studio turned the house itself into a billboard, using the building's front wall as a screen for the film's lines and images. It is a sign of how stars and studios now blend personal moments with film marketing, and how a fan gathering can become the launch pad for a campaign.
The song release is the first big musical step in that campaign. Putting Arijit Singh, a leading voice of Hindi film music, together with British pop star Ed Sheeran gives the track reach beyond Hindi film audiences. Reports differ on the exact share of Sheeran's part in the song, but his presence alone is meant to draw listeners in the UK, the US and other markets where both singers have large followings. Cross-border collaborations of this kind have become more common as Indian film music travels on global streaming platforms.
The pairing of Khan and Deepika Padukone is also a selling point. The two have worked together in several hit films, and fans of the duo were waiting to see them on screen again. A romantic song from an action film, released on the star's birthday, is a familiar way to show audiences that the movie has more than fights and chases.
King is also important for the box office calendar. A 24 December release puts it in the Christmas and New Year holiday window, when cinemas usually see strong family and youth audiences. A film of this size in that slot will shape the release plans of other big films around it. The new poster, showing Khan with a gun walking out of a burning tunnel, signals the darker, action-heavy tone the makers are promoting.
King: what we know so far Item | Detail Director | Siddharth Anand Lead | Shah Rukh Khan, with Deepika Padukone First song | "Tu Mil Jaaye Toh", released 2 November 2026 Singers | Arijit Singh and Ed Sheeran Release date | 24 December 2026, in cinemas
Impact
Short-term: The song and the Mannat display give King a burst of attention on music platforms and social media at the start of its promotion run, with about seven weeks to go before release.
Long-term: If the Arijit Singh-Ed Sheeran track does well internationally, it could encourage more Hindi films to bring in global artists for their soundtracks, and help the film reach audiences outside India.
Who is affected: Shah Rukh Khan's fans in India and abroad, cinema owners planning their Christmas schedules, music streaming platforms, and other films planning December releases.
Key Takeaway
Shah Rukh Khan used his 61st birthday to launch the first song of King with Arijit Singh and Ed Sheeran, setting up the film's 24 December 2026 release.
Questions and Answers
What did Shah Rukh Khan release on his birthday?
On his 61st birthday, 2 November 2026, he released "Tu Mil Jaaye Toh", the first song from his film King, featuring Arijit Singh and Ed Sheeran. He also shared a new poster of the film.
When is King releasing?
King is scheduled to release in cinemas on 24 December 2026. It is directed by Siddharth Anand.
What happened at Mannat on Shah Rukh Khan's birthday eve?
On the night of 1 November, his Mumbai home was lit with large projections of scenes and dialogues from King, a countdown to his birthday and a handwritten message from him to his fans.
Is Ed Sheeran singing in a Bollywood film?
Yes. Ed Sheeran features on "Tu Mil Jaaye Toh" from King alongside Arijit Singh. Reports differ on how large his part in the song is.
Disclaimer: Prepared by the Peepals newsroom from publicly available sources with AI assistance. Information is accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time of publication and may change. Images may be representative. Not professional advice. Report an error via our contact page.
By Aditi Kulkarni, Education WriterCovers Education and more for Peepals Bharat. All stories by Aditi Kulkarni
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Aditi Kulkarni is a pen name of the Peepals Global Editorial Team, which researches, fact-checks and publishes every story. The portrait is an illustration.
