Yash Raj Films released the official trailer for the much-anticipated ‘Pathaan’, a spy thriller that marks superstar Shah Rukh Khan’s return to leading man roles after 2018’s ‘Zero’ on Tuesday.

The film, which also stars Deepika Padukone, John Abraham, Dimple Kapadia, and Ashutosh Rana, is Bollywood’s first major release in 2023, and a lot is riding on its box office performance after a disappointing 2022.

The 2.34-minute trailer was shared on social media by the actor, who plays the titular spy in the upcoming Yash Raj Films (YRF) production.

The video begins with the mercenary outfit Outfit X, led by actor John Abraham, wreaking havoc and announcing an impending attack on Indian soil.

The Indian response is to bring back ‘Pathaan’, its spy.

“Ab Pathaan ke vanvaas ka time khatam hua (Pathan’s exile has come to an end),” says veteran actor Kapadia’s character in the trailer.

The following scene depicts Shah Rukh’s spy daringly breaking out of a prison with all guns blazing.

The film will be released in Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu on January 25, 2023.

Salman Khan, Shah Rukh’s close friend and contemporary, will appear in ‘Pathaan’, reprising his role from the “Tiger” films.

YRF plans to bring the characters from these films together to create a larger spy universe, which will include a cameo from Shah Rukh’s ‘Pathaan’ spy in Salman’s ‘Tiger 3’, which is set to release later this year