The makers of Pathaan want to present Shah Rukh Khan as the symbol of “machismo” through his style in the upcoming action thriller, the film’s director Siddharth Anand said on Tuesday.

“We wanted to capture the essence of his character which is inherently cool through what he wears and also his hairstyle. We wanted to make Shah Rukh Khan the symbol of alpha and machismo —someone who is effortlessly cool and hot at the same time— through his look,” said Siddharth.

Pathaan presents Shah Rukh as a gun-toting spy with a license to kill. The action extravaganza, set to release in theatres on January 25, is part of Aditya Chopra’s ambitious spy universe. The film also stars Deepika Padukone and John Abraham in pivotal roles.

“Shah Rukh has sported countless looks that have shaped the pop-culture of our country and inspired generations of youngsters to dress like him," said Siddharth.