Director Siddharth Anand has weighed in on social media chatter comparing Shah Rukh Khan’s appearance in the upcoming thriller King to Brad Pitt’s look in the Hollywood film F1: The Movie. The discussion erupted online following the release of King‘s title reveal promo, which shows Shah Rukh wearing a blue denim shirt paired with a dark beige jacket—an ensemble that some felt resembled Brad Pitt’s costume from F1.
No stranger to his work being measured against Hollywood productions, Anand responded good-naturedly to the commentary. He replied to a Twitter user who dismissed the comparisons as “funny logic by haters,” adding laughing emojis to his response.
Shah Rukh Khan’s supporters quickly came to his defense, posting screenshots from his 2017 romantic comedy Jab Harry Met Sejal, directed by Imtiaz Ali. They pointed out that if King‘s aesthetic seemed similar to F1, then perhaps Brad Pitt’s film drew inspiration from Shah Rukh’s earlier styling—effectively flipping the comparison.
This isn’t Anand’s first encounter with Hollywood parallels. His 2024 aerial action film Fighter, featuring Hrithik Roshan and Deepika Padukone, drew frequent comparisons to the Top Gun series. Anand attributed the film’s moderate box office performance to Indian audiences still warming up to the aerial combat genre.
His earlier hit Pathaan also stirred online debate, particularly over Deepika Padukone’s orange bikini in the song “Besharam Rang,” which sparked controversy from some who mistakenly associated the color with religious symbolism.
Meanwhile, Deepika Padukone, who stars alongside Shah Rukh in King, recently posted a warm message from the set, expressing gratitude for Shah Rukh’s professionalism and companionship on their sixth project together.
As anticipation builds for King‘s release, fans are eager to see Shah Rukh Khan’s action-driven performance and Anand’s signature visual flair.
