Tu Mil Jaaye: Everything to Know About King’s First Song, From Ed Sheeran’s Rap to SRK and Deepika’s Reunion
Shah Rukh Khan turned 61 today, and instead of just waving from the Mannat balcony, he handed fans a song. Tu Mil Jaaye, the first song from King, dropped just after midnight on 2 November, and by breakfast it had taken over every Bollywood corner of the internet. Deepika Padukone is back by his side. Arijit Singh sings. And yes, Ed Sheeran is really on it.
If you woke up to a phone full of clips and are trying to catch up, here is everything worth knowing, plus our honest take on whether the hype holds.
Tu Mil Jaaye King song: the credits at a glance
- Film: King, directed by Siddharth Anand, in cinemas on 24 December 2026
- On screen: Shah Rukh Khan and Deepika Padukone
- Music: Sachin-Jigar
- Vocals: Arijit Singh and Madhubanti Bagchi, featuring Ed Sheeran
- Lyrics: Kumaar (Hindi), with Ed Sheeran writing his own English rap, as Moneycontrol and Times Now report
- Choreography: Piyush-Shazia
A quick note on the name, because Google is confused. Outlets have spelled it Tu Mil Jaaye, Tu Mil Jaaye Toh and Mil Jaaye Toh. The Times of India called it “Mil Jaaye Toh”. The official upload, as Ending Explained points out, uses Tu Mil Jaaye. Search any of the three and you will land on the same track.
The Ed Sheeran question, finally settled
Rumours of an SRK and Ed Sheeran collaboration have floated for months, especially after Shah Rukh appeared in Sheeran’s “Sapphire” music video, as Ending Explained recalls. For a long time it sounded like wishful fan fiction. The credits now list Sheeran as the featured artist, so this one is real.
The interesting part is how the song uses him. Sheeran doesn’t try to sing in Hindi or turn it into a pop single with a Bollywood garnish. He comes in with English lines, Arijit carries the Hindi melody, and Madhubanti Bagchi adds a softer female voice. It is a layered track rather than a novelty duet, and that is a smarter choice than it might have been.
There is also a backstory to the music. NDTV and Outlook reported on 31 October that Anirudh Ravichander, who had composed King’s title theme released on SRK’s 60th birthday last year, had left the film, with Sachin-Jigar taking over the album. Neither side has publicly explained it. Tu Mil Jaaye lists Sachin-Jigar alone as composers.
SRK and Deepika: why this pairing still works
They have already shared the screen in Om Shanti Om, Chennai Express, Happy New Year, Pathaan and Jawan. You would expect some fatigue by now. Fans, judging by the timeline, feel the opposite. The Times of India noted that many viewers were reminded of their Om Shanti Om days, and that is the right comparison. The chemistry runs on ease, not intensity.
According to Moneycontrol’s description of the video, Shah Rukh opens with a dialogue that has already become a caption favourite: “Main qaatil nahi, aashiq hoon.” The video mixes romance, dance and flashes of action, hinting that King’s love story sits right inside a violent plot. Siddharth Anand did something similar in Pathaan, and it worked.
The other talking point, inevitably, is SRK’s physique. At 61, he is giving people half his age a reason to rethink their gym excuses. Expect that clip to live on fitness reels for weeks.
How the birthday played out
The song was only one part of the day. As per the Times of India, a King tribute lit up along the Bandra-Worli Sea Link, and Shah Rukh posted photos on X thanking Google Gemini for it. He also turned the outside of Mannat into a giant screen, played the new song for the crowd and shared a handwritten note that read, “To the hearts that made him KING, a lot of love in return.”
The same report says he celebrated late into the night with family and friends at the Taj in South Mumbai, with Suhana and Aryan Khan reportedly there, and was seen waving and blowing kisses to fans as he left. Classic SRK: private party, public gesture.
What to expect from King on 24 December
King is produced by Red Chillies Entertainment with Marflix Pictures, and the cast reported by the Times of India includes Abhishek Bachchan, Rani Mukerji and Suhana Khan alongside the lead pair. It is one of Suhana’s biggest outings so far, and the father-daughter angle alone guarantees curiosity.
The Christmas Eve slot is a statement too. Ranbir Kapoor’s Ramayana: Part One arrives on 5 November with heavy advance bookings, so the year-end box office is shaping up as a real heavyweight season. A song this loud, this early, tells you Red Chillies wants King to own December’s conversation.
Our verdict on Tu Mil Jaaye
Is it the song of the year? Too early to say, and first listens of event songs are always inflated by occasion. But it does the job a first single should do. It reintroduces a beloved pair, makes the film feel global without losing its Hindi heart, and gives fans something to replay on loop. Arijit sounds relaxed, Sachin-Jigar keep the melody simple enough to hum, and Sheeran’s cameo is sized just right.
Our only wish: more of Madhubanti Bagchi. Her portion is lovely and over too fast.
If you love a celebrity moment with a story behind it, read how Zendaya recreated Halle Berry’s Y2K look for Halloween, or revisit our guide to Patrick Stewart’s best movies and shows.
FAQ
Who sang Tu Mil Jaaye from King?
Arijit Singh and Madhubanti Bagchi sing the Hindi portions, with Ed Sheeran featured on an English rap that he reportedly wrote himself. The music is by Sachin-Jigar and the Hindi lyrics are by Kumaar.
When is King releasing in theatres?
King is scheduled for a theatrical release on 24 December 2026, according to the Times of India and the official video description cited by Ending Explained.
Is the song called Tu Mil Jaaye or Mil Jaaye Toh?
Both names are being used online, along with Tu Mil Jaaye Toh. The official upload is titled Tu Mil Jaaye, so that is the safest search term.