A day after Shah Rukh Khan turned 61, his birthday gift to fans has made history of its own — the biggest first day ever for a song from an Indian film.
Key Points
- “Tu Mil Jaaye”, the first song from Shah Rukh Khan’s upcoming film King, recorded 36.3 million YouTube views in its first 24 hours, according to Telegraph India.
- Released on 2 November, coinciding with Khan’s 61st birthday, it is the most-watched song from an Indian film in a single day.
- The track features Shah Rukh Khan and Deepika Padukone, with vocals by Arijit Singh and Madhubanti Bagchi and rap by Ed Sheeran.
- King, directed by Siddharth Anand, is scheduled for theatrical release on 24 December 2026.
A record first day
The numbers are striking. In its first 24 hours, “Tu Mil Jaaye” was watched 36.3 million times on YouTube — more than any song from an Indian film has managed in a single day before. (One headline rounded the figure up; the detailed report puts it at 36.3 million, and that is the figure to trust.)
The song arrived with perfect timing. Released on Khan’s birthday, it gave fans who had missed his traditional midnight balcony appearance — skipped this year while his Mumbai home Mannat is under renovation — something to celebrate instead. The actor did greet fans later in the day, but it was the song that travelled furthest.
Why this pairing caught fire
Part of the appeal is the collaboration itself. The track pairs Bollywood’s biggest star with Ed Sheeran — one of British pop’s biggest exports — alongside Arijit Singh and Madhubanti Bagchi, composed by Sachin-Jigar with lyrics by Kumaar. Khan is even seen lip-syncing to Sheeran’s voice in the video, a novelty that gave the release a talking point beyond the usual fan excitement.
It also reunites Khan with Deepika Padukone, his co-star in the film, and with director Siddharth Anand, who directed him in 2023’s Pathaan. King, which pairs Khan with Padukone for a sixth time and marks the big-screen debut of his daughter Suhana Khan, is now one of the most anticipated Indian releases of the year.
Putting the record in context
The record is specifically for songs from Indian films. Standalone music releases still lead the overall 24-hour rankings — Badshah’s “Paagal” tops that list with 75 million views — which makes the distinction worth keeping: “Tu Mil Jaaye” is the biggest film-song launch, not the biggest music launch of any kind.
What happens next
With King due in cinemas on 24 December, the song’s record first day sets up a long promotional runway. If the film’s next releases match this one, the Christmas release could become the defining Bollywood event of the year — and Khan’s 61st birthday week will be remembered as the moment it began.
Related coverage: his 61st birthday · Bollywood · King film
Sources
- Telegraph India — Telegraph India