Shah Rukh Khan Drops 'King' Song 'Tu Mil Jaaye' on His 61st Birthday

Shah Rukh Khan marked his 61st birthday on Monday, Nov. 2, with the release of "Tu Mil Jaaye," the first song from his upcoming action film "King." The track, which pairs Khan with Deepika Padukone, was released just after midnight India time, according to The Indian Express, which was Sunday afternoon in New York. It was composed by the duo Sachin-Jigar and sung by Arijit Singh and Madhubanti Bagchi, with an English rap section performed by British pop star Ed Sheeran, The Hindu reported.

Directed by Siddharth Anand, "King" is scheduled to open in cinemas worldwide on Thursday, Dec. 24. In the post announcing the song, Khan wrote "Of Love and other Battles" and gave the release date as "in cinemas 24.12.26," according to India Today. The film will be Khan's first theatrical release since "Dunki" in 2023, the year he also starred in "Pathaan" and "Jawan."

Romance intercut with action

The music video, released on the T-Series and Zee Music Company YouTube channels, opens with Khan delivering a line of dialogue that India Today translated as: "I am not a killer, but a lover. My beloved is my target, and what kind of lover would I be if I did not pierce the heart?"

The Indian Express reported that the song begins with Khan dressed in all black, walking on an island with a gun in his hand, and that it moves between dance sequences with Padukone and scenes of his character smuggling guns hidden under a bed of fish in cargo. The Hollywood Reporter India described the video as set primarily along a beachfront, with romantic scenes intercut with gunfire and bloodshed. The video closes with another line that India Today translated as: "This time, a fire is raging in my heart. It will not stop until it has set the world ablaze."

Both The Hindu and The Indian Express noted that the song's mix of romance and intrigue recalls "Besharam Rang," the Khan-Padukone number from Anand's 2023 spy thriller "Pathaan." India Today reported that the track has drawn mixed reactions online, with some listeners praising Singh's vocals and the lead pair's chemistry while others questioned its familiar sound and styling.

Arijit Singh, Ed Sheeran and the music team

The lyrics were written by Kumaar, while Sheeran wrote his own English rap, according to India Today. The choreography is by Piyush-Shazia. The Hollywood Reporter India said the song marks the second collaboration between Singh and Sheeran after "Sapphire" in 2025. Hindustan Times reported that the track marks Sheeran's debut as a playback singer in Indian cinema.

The Indian Express reported that Singh recorded the song before announcing his retirement from playback singing in January, and that Sheeran recorded his portion during a visit to India earlier this year.

The release came on the same day India Today, citing a report by Bollywood Hungama, said that composer Anirudh had reportedly stepped away from the film because of his commitments in the South, with Sachin-Jigar taking over both the soundtrack album and the background score. A source quoted in that report said: "Anirudh has given the theme track of King to Shah Rukh Khan as a mark of his respect for the megastar." The source added: "So King will still have the Anirudh touch with the theme track, but the entire score and the album will be done by Sachin-Jigar."

A changed birthday ritual at Mannat

Khan's midnight appearance on the balcony of Mannat, his bungalow in Mumbai's Bandra neighborhood, has become a birthday tradition for fans. That tradition was broken this year because the actor has temporarily moved out of the residence, according to Hindustan Times. Filmibeat reported that Mannat is undergoing major reconstruction and expansion work.

Instead, a handwritten note from Khan was displayed outside the house. It read: "Thank you all for your wishes and love. Sending mine right back to you all." Hindustan Times reported that the display also carried lines of dialogue from the film, including "King Akela Kaafi Hai" and "Darr Nahi, Dehshat Hoon." The Indian Express reported that Mumbai Police had increased security outside the bungalow from Sunday evening.

Later on Monday, Hindustan Times reported that Khan greeted the crowd outside Mannat with waves, flying kisses and his trademark arms-wide-open pose, and that Red Chillies Entertainment shared a video of the moment with the caption: "The KING of hearts, with his kingdom of love!" The Hollywood Reporter India reported that Khan waved to fans from his car.

Cast and release plans

Kareena Kapoor Khan also used the birthday to confirm a dance number with Khan in the film. She shared a monochrome image of the two in silhouette, with a caption that included "The forever Ruler of the kingdom" and "Let's dance together," India Today reported.

"King" is produced by Gauri Khan's Red Chillies Entertainment and Siddharth and Mamta Anand's Marflix Pictures. It is the first film to feature Khan alongside his daughter, Suhana Khan, according to Hindustan Times. The cast also includes Abhishek Bachchan, Jackie Shroff, Arshad Warsi, Jaideep Ahlawat, Raghav Juyal and Abhay Verma, while Rani Mukerji, Padukone and Kapoor Khan have special appearances, Hindustan Times reported. The Indian Express reported that Bachchan plays the chief antagonist and that "King" is Khan and Padukone's sixth film together, after "Om Shanti Om," "Chennai Express," "Happy New Year," "Pathaan" and "Jawan."

Hindustan Times also reported that the film is said to be inspired by the 1994 French film "Léon: The Professional," and to follow an aging assassin played by Khan and his young protégé, played by Suhana Khan. The song's release follows the unveiling of a new poster for the film last week, India Today reported.