Ed Sheeran makes Bollywood playback debut with Shah Rukh Khan’s King; reveals how SRK brought him on board

International pop sensation Ed Sheeran is making his Bollywood playback debut with Shah Rukh Khan’s upcoming film King. The singer has joined forces with Arijit Singh and Madhubanti Bagchi for the film’s first official track, titled Tu Mil Jaaye. Sharing the story behind the collaboration, Ed revealed that his association with the project began with a promise made by Shah Rukh during their first meeting.

Taking to Instagram, Ed recalled how Shah Rukh had expressed his desire to have him contribute a song to one of his films. The two have stayed in touch over the years, and their friendship eventually paved the way for this musical collaboration.

How Shah Rukh Khan introduced Ed Sheeran to the King team

Ed shared that his visit to Shah Rukh’s Mumbai home during an earlier trip to India turned out to be an important moment in the making of Tu Mil Jaaye. The singer had visited the superstar to film a special appearance for his music video Sapphire, which also featured Arijit Singh.

During that meeting, Shah Rukh introduced Ed to music composer duo Sachin-Jigar. What followed was an impromptu recording session, with Ed writing and recording his portion of Tu Mil Jaaye that very night.

The singer also expressed his excitement about sharing the track with Arijit, describing the collaboration as a project that brought together several people he admires.

Ed Sheeran and Shah Rukh Khan’s friendship

The collaboration marks another chapter in the growing friendship between the British singer and the Bollywood superstar. Shah Rukh and his family had previously hosted Ed at their Mumbai residence, Mannat, during his India visit in March 2024.

Their connection has now been translated into a Bollywood musical association, giving Indian audiences an opportunity to hear Ed in a Hindi film soundtrack.

All about Shah Rukh Khan’s King

Directed by Siddharth Anand, King is among Shah Rukh Khan’s highly anticipated upcoming films. The project features an ensemble cast, including Suhana Khan, Deepika Padukone, Abhishek Bachchan, Rani Mukerji and Arshad Warsi, among others.

Tu Mil Jaaye, featuring Ed Sheeran, Arijit Singh and Madhubanti Bagchi, is the film’s first official musical release. With an international music star joining forces with some of India's most recognised musical voices, the track adds an interesting dimension to the film's soundtrack.

King is scheduled to be released in theatres on December 24, 2026.