Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan’s much-anticipated upcoming film King has stirred a fashion and style debate online. Ever since the first look of the film dropped on his 60th birthday, fans and critics alike noticed a striking resemblance between his outfit and the one Brad Pitt sports in his Hollywood film F1. Hindustan Times
Online speculation and comparisons
The image that ignited the discussion shows Shah Rukh wearing a blue shirt paired with a tan jacket—an ensemble that immediately reminded social-media users of Brad Pitt’s look from F1. Posts began circulating with side-by-side visuals of Pitt and Khan, and the internet labelled the resemblance either “inspiration” or “copy”. Hindustan Times+1
The director jumps in
Responding to the chatter, director Siddharth Anand took to social media. He reshared a post that dubbed many Bollywood-style “copies” as absurd (mentioning fighter jets = Top Gun, ships = Titanic, dresses = copy of F1) and added laughing emojis and an “okay” hand sign in the comments — seemingly poking fun at the notion of outright copying. Hindustan Times
What we know about King
- The first look of King was released on Shah Rukh’s 60th birthday. Hindustan Times
- In the title-reveal teaser, Khan appears in a salt-and-pepper look, performing action-heavy sequences. Hindustan Times
- Khan described the character as “very dark … full of vices. He kills people and doesn’t even ask” (rough translation). Hindustan Times
- The film is directed by Siddharth Anand and produced by Red Chillies Entertainment and Marflix Pictures. Hindustan Times
- The star-cast includes Deepika Padukone, Suhana Khan, Jackie Shroff, Anil Kapoor, Arshad Warsi, Rani Mukerji, Abhishek Bachchan, Jaideep Ahlawat and Abhay Verma. Hindustan Times
- Scheduled for release in 2026. Hindustan Times
What this means & why it matters
While it may seem like a fashion gaffe, the debate opens up broader questions:
- In an age of globalised pop-culture, how much of style similarity is deliberate homage vs. coincidental convergence?
- When a high-profile star appears to channel a look from another culture or film, how does that affect originality, inspiration and creative freedom?
- Is the internet’s rapid “did they copy?” reaction stifling designers and stylists who are inspired by global aesthetics?
- For the film’s marketing, even this side-debate generates buzz. Whether intentional or not, the comparison has brought added attention to King before its release.
Bottom line
Yes — the look of Shah Rukh Khan in King has drawn comparisons to Brad Pitt’s F1 attire. But director Siddharth Anand’s reaction suggests a shrug more than a defensive denial. The film is still shaping up, and this style chatter may simply be part of the build-up to its 2026 release.
