The King is back!
As fans across the globe celebrate his 57th birthday, Yash Raj Films has finally released the official teaser trailer and poster for Shah Rukh Khan's (Don: The Chase Begins Again; Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge; Veer-Zaara) hotly-awaited spy actioner Pathaan.
While plot details remain mostly under wraps, save for the fact that it seemingly opens with a prison break, the film is expected to formally launch YRF's Spy Universe, as this upcoming film is set in the same world as Salman Khan's Tiger and Hrithik Roshan's War films. Their goal is to ultimately bring the three stars together for an epic crossover film.
The spy action thriller was written and directed by Siddharth Anand (War; Bang Bang!; Salaam Namaste) and will bow in theaters on January 25, 2023; coinciding with the Republic Day holiday in India, which sets the stage for a gargantuan opening weekend for the global megastar's first film in a leading role since 2018's Zero.
In a statement to Variety, Pathaan director Siddharth Anand previously expressed his gratitude to Khan and shared a brief description of what he aimed to accomplish with this potential all-time blockbuster.
He is the alpha man on a mission in this action spectacle that will hopefully set new benchmarks for the action genre in India. When you have Shah Rukh Khan in your film, along with superstars like Deepika Padukone and John Abraham, you have to reach for the stars in every department and I don’t think we will disappoint on that promise with ‘Pathaan’.
Khan will star in the title role with frequent collaborator Deepika Padukone (Chennai Express; Om Shanti Om; xXx: The Return of Xander Cage) as the female lead and John Abraham (Dhoom; Dostana; Satyameva Jayate) playing the primary antagonist. Dimple Kapadia (Dil Chahta Hai; Dabangg; Tenet) will also appear in a key supporting role.
SRK's longtime friend and fellow icon Salman Khan (Mujhse Shaadi Karogi; Ek Tha Tiger; Tiger Zinda Hai) is slated to make an extended cameo as Avinash Singh Rathore, reprising his role from YRF's ongoing Tiger action franchise, while superstar Hrithik Roshan (Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham; Dhoom 2; Vikram Vedha) is also rumored to cameo as Major Kabir Dhaliwal from 2019's War.
Pathaan (January 25) will be the first of three releases for King Khan in 2023, followed by Atlee's Jawan on June 2, and Rajkumar Hirani's Dunki on December 22.
Check out the official teaser trailer and poster for Pathaan below: