Anirudh Exits King, Leaves Theme Track for Rs 450 Crore Film
Anirudh exits SRK's King on good terms, gifts the theme track to Shah Rukh Khan, and Sachin-Jigar take over the score and album for the Christmas release.
Shah Rukh Khan’s King is still speeding toward a Christmas 2026 release, but the music chairs have shifted. Anirudh has exited Siddharth Anand’s big-budget actioner on warm terms, and Sachin-Jigar now hold the responsibility for the film’s album and background score.
A packed calendar, not a falling-out
The change is being framed as an amicable exit driven by dates, not differences. A source said Anirudh’s multiple commitments down south made it difficult to give a film of this scale the time it demands. Since Shah Rukh Khan and Siddharth Anand are determined to bring King to cinemas this Christmas without delays, a cordial discussion led both parties to part ways.
“After a cordial discussion, both parties mutually decided to part ways,” a source told Bollywood Hungama.
What changes, and what remains
The handover comes with a graceful twist. Anirudh has gifted the film’s theme track to Shah Rukh Khan as a mark of respect, and Sachin-Jigar will reimagine that motif through the entire background score. The album otherwise belongs to the new duo.
- Theme track: stays Anirudh’s gift to the film.
- Background score: Sachin-Jigar, built around that theme.
- Album: Sachin-Jigar’s responsibility.
- Release date: still locked for Christmas 2026.
Why the timing matters
King is being positioned as the most ambitious action film of Hindi cinema, mounted on an estimated Rs 450 crore before SRK’s fees and print-and-advertising costs are added. Insiders say the scale is designed to put every rupee on screen. A long composer search was never an option with the marketing countdown already running toward a grand asset launch around SRK’s birthday.
For fans, the swap means the campaign can move forward without losing a signature sound. Anirudh’s style has earned him a massive following, especially for background scores, and keeping his theme inside the film softens the blow. Sachin-Jigar now have the delicate job of making that theme feel like part of their own larger score while delivering the album SRK fans will hear through the festive window.
For anyone hoping to hear Anirudh’s full version of King, the update lands as a compromise: his motif survives, but the broader sonic world will be Sachin-Jigar’s.
The road to Christmas
The film remains one of the most discussed titles of the year, and Siddharth Anand has reportedly built it as a love letter to the legend of SRK. With the composer question settled, all eyes now turn to the birthday asset launch that will officially kick off King‘s marketing campaign.
Source: bollywoodHungama.com
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