Mumbai: In a major shift for Bollywood's biggest December release, the international filming schedule for Shah Rukh Khan's much-anticipated action thriller King has been relocated from Dubai to Mumbai amid ongoing geopolitical tensions in West Asia.

Originally slated to begin a high-octane desert action sequence in Dubai on April 9, the production of King, directed by Siddharth Anand, has scrapped the overseas leg entirely, with filmmakers citing safety concerns for cast and crew due to the volatile situation in the region.

Instead of flying abroad, an elaborate desert set is being constructed in Mumbai's Vile Parle studios, meticulously designed to replicate the look and scale originally planned for the UAE locations. Production insiders say the move not only ensures safety but also provides creative control over lighting and action choreography, crucial for the intense chase and combat scenes featuring SRK, his daughter Suhana Khan, and Anil Kapoor.

This update comes as King, one of Bollywood's most expensive films, gears up for a Christmas Eve 2026 release. The film also stars a stellar ensemble including Deepika Padukone, Abhishek Bachchan, Rani Mukerji, Arshad Warsi, and more.

The King shift isn't an isolated case. The ongoing geopolitical friction in the Middle East, particularly the US-Iran conflict and rising regional instability, has begun to impact Bollywood's international shooting plans, prompting studios to rethink overseas schedules for safety and logistical reasons.