Most Bollywood productions treat foreign locations as backdrops. Shah Rukh Khan’s unnamed 2026 film is treating them as characters. Reports circulating since late February confirm that the production — helmed by a yet-to-be-officially-named director — has locked in three international destinations across Europe and Southeast Asia for principal photography. For fans tracking every SRK development, our Entertainment coverage hub has been following this project since its earliest whispers.
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Why the Location Strategy Is Different This Time
Post-Dunki, the conversation around SRK’s international shoots shifted. That film used Europe as a narrative device — immigration, longing, belonging. The new project reportedly doubles down on that philosophy. Locations aren’t chosen for their postcard value alone. They’re chosen because the script demands emotional geography.
Here’s the thing — that’s a meaningful creative pivot for Hindi cinema. Too many big-budget films fly crews to Switzerland or Prague simply to justify the budget. When a location earns its place in the story, the audience feels it. Early production notes suggest Spain’s Basque Country, Vietnam’s Ha Long Bay, and Iceland’s Vatnajökull glacier region are all in play. Each carries a distinct visual and emotional register.
Where the Cameras Are Actually Rolling
Confirmed or heavily sourced location details as of March 2026:
- Spain (Basque Country, San Sebastián): Reportedly a 12-day schedule covering coastal and urban sequences. The region offers dramatic Atlantic cliffs alongside old-town architecture — a combination few European destinations match.
- Vietnam (Ha Long Bay, Quảng Ninh Province): A 7-10 day schedule for what sources describe as a pivotal second-act sequence. The limestone karst formations provide a visual scale that’s near-impossible to replicate on a set.
- Iceland (Vatnajökull / Jökulsárlón area): The most logistically demanding leg. A 5-day glacier shoot reportedly requiring specialised cold-weather camera rigs and a crew of over 200 personnel. Iceland Film Commission has confirmed increased Bollywood interest in 2025-26.
Production budgets for international schedules of this scale typically run ₹40–60 crore per major location leg. Total foreign shoot expenditure for this project is estimated — conservatively — at ₹150 crore.
What the Production Scale Tells Us
A 200-person crew in Iceland isn’t a vanity decision. It signals a film built around spectacle that genuinely serves story — at least, that’s the intention. SRK’s production house, Red Chillies Entertainment, has a documented track record of technical ambition. Jawan‘s action sequences and Ra.One‘s VFX pipeline both pushed Indian production infrastructure in measurable ways.
What stands out here is the Iceland schedule specifically. Glacier shoots demand thermal housing for equipment, specialised lighting rigs to manage the near-permanent overcast, and medical standby teams. None of that is cheap or casual. You don’t spend that money on a song sequence. This points to a narratively central set piece — possibly a climax or a major emotional turning point.
The Bollywood section has tracked how Red Chillies has steadily expanded its international production partnerships since 2023, and this project appears to be the fullest expression of that strategy yet.
The Fan and Box Office Angle
People Also Ask: Will Shah Rukh Khan’s 2026 film release theatrically or on OTT?
All current indicators point to a full theatrical release, likely timed around Eid 2026 or Christmas 2026 — both slots SRK has historically owned. There is no confirmed OTT pre-sale deal as of March 2026, which itself signals the producers expect theatrical numbers significant enough to avoid an early streaming window.
For context, Jawan grossed ₹1,148 crore worldwide against a reported budget of ₹300 crore. Dunki, despite mixed reviews, crossed ₹460 crore globally. A film with this location ambition and production scale will need to clear ₹500–600 crore just to break even — and the team clearly believes it can do considerably more.
Fans tracking casting updates and release windows can follow the OTT & Film News section for the latest.
Quick Comparison — SRK’s Recent International Shoot Projects
| Film | Key International Location | Reported Foreign Shoot Budget | Best Known For | Box Office Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dunki (2023) | UK, Hungary, Saudi Arabia | ~₹80 crore | Emotional diaspora narrative | 7.5/10 |
| Jawan (2023) | Spain, Thailand | ~₹60 crore | High-octane action spectacle | 9.0/10 |
| 2026 Untitled Project | Spain, Vietnam, Iceland | ~₹150 crore (est.) | Cinematic scale + story geography | TBD |
Pros and Cons of This Ambitious Location Strategy
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Visually distinct locations that no other 2026 Bollywood film can replicate | Logistical complexity inflates budget risk significantly |
| Iceland and Ha Long Bay sequences promise genuinely cinematic scale | Overrun delays in remote locations (Iceland especially) can cascade into release date shifts |
| Strong international press interest boosts global marketing reach organically | A ₹150 crore foreign shoot budget raises the break-even bar to a very high threshold |
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Which countries is Shah Rukh Khan’s 2026 film shooting in?
A: Confirmed and sourced locations include Spain (San Sebastián), Vietnam (Ha Long Bay), and Iceland (Vatnajökull glacier region) as of March 2026.
