Deepika Padukone did not press pause on King. Weeks after announcing her second pregnancy, she flew to Cape Town to shoot with Shah Rukh Khan, and the leaked pictures from the set are still doing the rounds as the film's December 24 release draws closer.
With fresh King buzz this week, here is a clear recap of what has been reported about Deepika's shoot, her pregnancy and her sixth film with SRK.
The pregnancy announcement and a quick return to set
Deepika and her husband Ranveer Singh announced that they are expecting their second child in April, with an Instagram post featuring their daughter Dua holding a positive pregnancy test, as described by The Indian Express. Pinkvilla, citing Mid-Day, dates the announcement to April 19.
Work did not stop. According to that Mid-Day report quoted by Pinkvilla, Deepika returned to the King set on April 21 and filmed a hyper-stylised fight sequence with Shah Rukh at Golden Tobacco Studio in Mumbai's Vile Parle over two days, dressed in an all-white outfit. News18, citing Free Press Journal, reported that she had her work schedule fully planned and intended to continue shooting through her pregnancy.
Inside the Cape Town shoot
The headline moment came at the start of May. Leaked images from the set in Cape Town surfaced online on a Friday morning, The Indian Express reported on May 1, and South African outlet The Post reported that the stars were seen filming at the V&A Waterfront.
The pictures show Deepika in a flowing dress, with The Indian Express describing a floral-print gown and News18 describing a flowy orange dress, while Shah Rukh wears a striped shirt, sunglasses and a pendant, according to NDTV and The Post. The two are seen walking hand in hand, and multiple outlets reported that they appeared to be filming a song sequence. The Times of India said the dress seemed to conceal her baby bump.
Fans loved it. One Reddit user quoted by The Indian Express wrote: "Why the hell is it looking like a Renaissance painting?"
As for the wider schedule, The Times of India reported that the team was in South Africa as part of an 18-day climax shoot, with about a week in Cape Town before a 10-day schedule back in Mumbai. The Post reported that the South African leg included intense action sequences and romantic scenes, while News18 said Abhishek Bachchan and Suhana Khan were also part of the schedule.
Deepika and SRK: movie number six
King marks Deepika's sixth collaboration with Shah Rukh Khan, NDTV notes. They began with Om Shanti Om and went on to make Chennai Express, Happy New Year, Pathaan and Jawan together.
When she started filming King in September 2025, Deepika shared a note about him that NDTV quotes: "The very first lesson he taught me almost 18 years ago while filming Om Shanti Om was that the experience of making a movie, and the people you make it with, matter far more than its success. I couldn't agree more and have applied that learning to every decision I've made since. And that's probably why we're back making our 6th movie together."
The Indian Express also notes that she has been part of a broader industry conversation about work-life balance, with reports suggesting she had asked for an eight-hour work shift after becoming a mother. She continues to work on both King and Raaka with Allu Arjun, according to the same report.
King release date, cast and what is next
King is directed by Siddharth Anand and produced by Red Chillies Entertainment and Marflix Pictures, and it is scheduled to release in cinemas on December 24, 2026. The Indian Express lists an ensemble that includes Abhishek Bachchan, Suhana Khan, Arshad Warsi, Jaideep Ahlawat, Raghav Juyal, Abhay Verma, Saurabh Shukla, Anil Kapoor, Jackie Shroff and Rani Mukerji. Early indications suggest Shah Rukh plays a deadly assassin.
The film is now drawing fresh attention for another reported South Africa shoot, with Kareena Kapoor Khan said to be joining Shah Rukh for a special song titled Daddy Cool later this month. For Deepika's fans, though, the abiding image of King's production remains those sunlit Cape Town frames of her and SRK walking hand in hand.
Frequently Asked Questions
Did Deepika Padukone shoot King while pregnant?
Yes. According to reports by NDTV, News18 and The Indian Express, Deepika joined Shah Rukh Khan in Cape Town to shoot King after announcing her second pregnancy, and she also filmed an action sequence in Mumbai in April.
Where was King shot in South Africa?
Leaked pictures showed Shah Rukh Khan and Deepika Padukone filming in Cape Town, at the V&A Waterfront according to The Post, reportedly for a song sequence.
How many films have Deepika Padukone and Shah Rukh Khan done together?
King is their sixth film together, after Om Shanti Om, Chennai Express, Happy New Year, Pathaan and Jawan.
Cover photo: Danisamuel / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0