Rajkumar Hirani on Dunki ’s Box Office Performance: ‘Can’t Predict What Works’
Shah Rukh Khan’s Dunki hit theaters in 2023 after the massive success of Pathaan and Jawan. Despite high expectations, the film couldn't match the box office performance of SRK’s previous blockbusters. Directed by Rajkumar Hirani, Dunki starred Taapsee Pannu and Vicky Kaushal in key roles. Though the film created buzz, its earnings were underwhelming compared to SRK’s action-packed hits.
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Hirani Shares His Thoughts on Dunki’s Story
In a recent conversation with Komal Nahta, Rajkumar Hirani opened up about the film’s unique concept. He shared that Dunki was inspired by real-life stories of people attempting to leave India without proper documents, particularly from Ludhiana. He found the contrast between the humor and tragedy in these stories compelling.
Talking about the writing process, Hirani said, “We always try to find a unique idea. Dunki came from a world that had both humor and sadness. Writing it was a challenge, but we were confident that the film had entertainment and depth. However, predicting audience reactions is tough—some stories resonate, some don’t.”
Shah Rukh Khan’s Realistic Approach to Dunki’s Box Office Performance
Hirani also revealed that Shah Rukh Khan had realistic expectations from Dunki. In an earlier interview, Hirani mentioned that SRK knew the film wouldn’t earn as much as Pathaan and Jawan, which were action-packed entertainers. Instead, SRK believed Dunki would gradually attract family audiences over time.
“After doing two action films, Shah Rukh was excited about Dunki. He understood that audiences were favoring action films at the time. He had already told me not to expect massive box office numbers initially. He believed that families would connect with the film and come to watch it over time, which is exactly what happened,” Hirani said.
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