Mumbai: Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan celebrated his 61st birthday on Monday by releasing the first song from his upcoming film KING, while Kareena Kapoor Khan shared a photograph from another musical sequence featuring the actor. The song, titled Tu Mil Jaaye, reunites Khan with Deepika Padukone and combines romance with scenes from the action thriller directed by Siddharth Anand.
Released at midnight, the track features vocals by Arijit Singh and Madhubanti Bagchi, alongside an English rap segment written and performed by British singer Ed Sheeran. Composed by the duo Sachin Jigar, with lyrics by Kumaar, the song is choreographed by Piyush Shazia.
The accompanying video opens with Khan delivering a dialogue about love before moving into a musical sequence featuring Padukone. The video incorporates scenes from the film, offering a glimpse of the relationship between their characters and the conflict surrounding them. The song also marks another collaboration between Khan and Padukone, who previously appeared together in Om Shanti Om, Chennai Express, Happy New Year, Pathaan and Jawan.
Deepika's saffron outfit revives Pathaan controversy
Beyond the music, Padukone's saffron coloured outfit has drawn attention on social media, with viewers comparing it to the controversy surrounding the song Besharam Rang from Pathaan in 2023. At the time, her orange outfit in the Pathaan music video prompted objections from some Hindu nationalist groups and political figures, who argued the colour was disrespectful to religious sentiments.
The controversy led to calls to boycott the film, although Pathaan went on to achieve commercial success after its release.
Three years later, Padukone's choice of a similar colour in Tu Mil Jaaye has revived discussion about the earlier dispute. Some social media users have interpreted the appearance as a reference to the criticism Pathaan faced, particularly since both films were directed by Siddharth Anand.
However, neither Khan nor the filmmakers have confirmed whether the colour choice was intended as a response to the earlier controversy. The discussion has highlighted the intersection of cinema, religious symbolism, and political reactions to Bollywood films.
Kareena Kapoor reveals song with Shah Rukh Khan
Later on Monday, Kareena Kapoor Khan marked the actor's birthday by sharing a monochrome photograph showing the two standing face to face in what appeared to be a dance sequence from KING. In her Instagram post, Kapoor wished Khan a happy birthday, called him the ruler of the kingdom and hinted at their upcoming performance with the words, "Let's dance together."
She also mentioned December 24, 2026, the film's scheduled release date. The post confirmed Kapoor's involvement in a musical sequence with Khan, adding another collaboration to their screen history. The two actors have previously worked together in Asoka, Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham and Ra.One, while Kapoor also appeared in Don and Billu.
Gauri Khan, who is producing KING, responded to Kapoor's birthday post, adding to the publicity surrounding the film's music. Unlike Tu Mil Jaaye, the song featuring Kapoor has not been released yet.
KING brings together Bollywood cast
Directed by Siddharth Anand, who previously worked with Khan on Pathaan in 2023, KING is an action thriller written by Sujoy Ghosh and Anand. The film will also feature Khan's daughter Suhana Khan in her theatrical debut in a lead role.
Its cast includes Abhishek Bachchan, Rani Mukerji, Anil Kapoor, Jaideep Ahlawat, Jackie Shroff, Arshad Warsi, Raghav Juyal and Abhay Verma. Produced by Gauri Khan, Mamta Anand and Siddharth Anand under Red Chillies Entertainment and Marflix Pictures, the film is scheduled for worldwide theatrical release on December 24, 2026.
The release of Tu Mil Jaaye and Kapoor's birthday announcement form part of the film's promotional campaign, with further material expected ahead of its cinema release. The track is available on music streaming platforms, while its video has been released online.
