Shah Rukh Khan’s 2023 film Dunki, directed by Rajkumar Hirani, tells the story of illegal immigration. But did you know how SRK got the title for the movie? Actor and director Akashdeep Sabir recently shared the story in an interview.
Akashdeep Owned the Title ‘Dunki’
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Akashdeep Sabir was working on a web series about illegal immigration. He had planned to release it on Netflix and had even registered several titles, including The Donkey Route, The Road to Death, and Dunki.
Around the same time, Rajkumar Hirani and Shah Rukh Khan were also developing a film on the same topic. When they decided to name it Dunki, Hirani realized that Akashdeep already owned the title.
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SRK Personally Called Akashdeep
Akashdeep revealed that Shah Rukh personally called him to request the title. Since they hadn’t spoken in years, Akashdeep initially thought it was a prank. He was busy in his editing room when he received an unknown call.
“The caller said, ‘Mote, Shah Rukh bol raha hoon’ (Fatty, this is Shah Rukh speaking). I thought someone was joking. When he called again and politely introduced himself, I realized it was really him,” Akashdeep recalled.
SRK Invited Akashdeep for Dinner
The next day, Shah Rukh invited Akashdeep for dinner. During their meeting, he asked if he could use the title Dunki for his film. Akashdeep immediately agreed. To avoid any conflicts, SRK also arranged a meeting with Rajkumar Hirani and the film’s team to ensure their projects were different.
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Dunki’s Release and SRK’s Next Project
Dunki, starring Shah Rukh Khan, Taapsee Pannu, and Vicky Kaushal, was released in December 2023. Shah Rukh Khan will next be seen in the movie King.
