Nagarjuna Unveils 100th Film King100, Locks Same Release Date as Shah Rukh Khan’s King

Nagarjuna Akkineni’s landmark 100th film now has an official title and release date. Annapurna Studios unveiled the first glimpse of King100 on the actor’s 67th birthday and announced that the Telugu film will open in cinemas worldwide on December 24, 2026.

That date places it directly against Shah Rukh Khan’s King. Red Chillies Entertainment has separately confirmed December 24 for the Siddharth Anand-directed Hindi action film, making the Christmas encounter more than industry speculation: as of August 30, both films are officially scheduled for the same day.

The unusual hook is difficult to miss. Two actors associated with the “King” moniker will lead two unrelated films built around the same word, arriving during one of the year’s most valuable theatrical periods.

What the King100 glimpse reveals

Previously used as a working label for Nagarjuna’s 100th film, King100 has now been retained as the official title. The footage released by Annapurna Studios presents the actor in a flamboyant, gold-toned look and introduces a world shaped by wealth, power, and social status.

In the glimpse, Nagarjuna’s character reflects on how he was treated differently before and after becoming wealthy. The character says people called him a loser when he had nothing but began calling him “King” after he acquired money.

The video then suggests that retaining this identity may be more difficult than earning it. Its imagery includes luxury cars, cash, political unrest, and government scrutiny before the tone shifts towards a more personal storyline involving a child. The promotional material stops short of revealing a complete synopsis, so descriptions of the film as a specific scam or political story remain interpretations of the glimpse rather than an officially published plot.

King100 is written and directed by Ra Karthik, who previously made the Tamil film Nitham Oru Vaanam. The project marks his Telugu directorial debut and is being produced by Annapurna Studios.

Tabu reunites with Nagarjuna

Tabu has joined the project in what the makers describe as an important role. She confirmed the development in April by sharing an image of the film’s clapperboard and writing, “And we begin with #King100.”

The casting reunites Tabu and Nagarjuna after their earlier Telugu collaborations, including Ninne Pelladatha and Aavida Maa Aavide. Nagarjuna had previously said that Tabu wanted to participate after learning that he was preparing his 100th film.

The complete cast has not yet been formally presented in the title glimpse. Additional names circulating around the production should therefore be treated separately from the team officially credited in the announcement.

Devi Sri Prasad is composing the music, renewing his association with Nagarjuna after films including Manmadhudu, Mass and King. Raja Mahadhevan is handling cinematography, Navin Nooli is the editor, and Sathees Kumar N is responsible for production design.

Shah Rukh Khan’s King also holds December 24

There is no uncertainty about the currently announced date of Shah Rukh Khan’s film. Red Chillies Entertainment’s official website lists December 24, 2026, while the company’s verified YouTube channel previously released a date-announcement video carrying the same date.

Directed by Siddharth Anand and produced by Red Chillies Entertainment and Marflix Pictures, King is being promoted as a new action vehicle for Shah Rukh. It reunites the actor with Anand following Pathaan.

The first title-reveal material presented Khan in a silver-haired look and positioned his character as a feared figure with an international reputation. Red Chillies has officially identified Shah Rukh Khan as the lead and Siddharth Anand as director. Wider cast lists published elsewhere should not automatically be treated as confirmed unless backed by the producers’ announcements.

Is the King100-King clash final?

The clash is confirmed at the level of current official release calendars: both production houses have selected December 24, 2026.

However, release dates can change because of post-production schedules, screen allocation, or commercial negotiations. Neither team has announced a postponement, and there is no verified indication that either film intends to move.

It would therefore be premature to claim that discussions between the producers have begun or that one title will eventually withdraw. At present, the responsible description is that the two films are scheduled to clash.

Why the Christmas 2026 contest is significant

This is not simply a Hindi-versus-Telugu comparison. Nagarjuna’s film carries the narrative weight of a career milestone, while Shah Rukh’s project marks another major action collaboration with Siddharth Anand.

Their initial theatrical priorities may also differ. King is likely to depend heavily on the Hindi market and overseas territories, while King100 begins with Nagarjuna’s established Telugu audience. The degree of direct competition will ultimately depend on dubbed-language plans, nationwide screen counts, and distribution strategydetails that have not yet been fully announced.

The shared title motif could nevertheless make the face-off one of the most marketable release-date stories of Christmas 2026.

The Celebrity Hour Take

The strongest element of this clash is not the easy “King versus King” branding. It is that both projects arrive with different forms of legacy attached.

For Nagarjuna, King100 turns a numerical career milestone into the film’s identity. The title connects his public image, his earlier film King and the promise of a larger-than-life 100th outing. For Shah Rukh Khan, the title King directly uses the screen persona that has followed him for decades.

Box-office predictions would be premature without trailers, budgets, language strategies, and screen-allocation data. What is already clear is that neither film is currently occupying December 24 by accident. Both are being positioned as event releases, giving exhibitors and audiences two high-profile options during the same holiday window.

Sources & Verification

This report was prepared using King100 promotional material issued by Annapurna Studios, Tabu’s publicly documented production announcement, and the official King page and date-announcement video released by Red Chillies Entertainment. Crew details and the content of the King100 glimpse were cross-checked against established national and regional coverage. Both December 24 release dates are officially announced as of August 30, 2026; no change by either production has been identified.