A fan event on Shah Rukh Khan’s 58th birthday a few days ago witnessed the release of #DunkiDrop1, the much-lauded first asset of the superstar’s Christmas biggie, directed by Rajkumar Hirani. Also present at the event was co-writer Abhijat Joshi, a close collaborator of Hirani on all his films.

What made the event even more special was the fact that both SRK and Hirani shared interesting nuggets about their film. Here’s a glimpse of what they have revealed so far about the world of Dunki and beyond...

Rajkumar Hirani on wanting to work with Shah Rukh Khan since the latter’s TV series Circus

“I used to study at a film institute and I used to wonder, ‘I am graduating from here, but who would work with me?’” said the superhit director of films like Munna Bhai, 3 Idiots, PK and Sanju. “I used to look at big stars like (Amitabh) Bachchan sahab and think, ‘Why would a star like him work with me?’ So, one day, in my hostel’s TV room, I was watching Circus. In a particular scene, a young actor was performing at a platform. It was a big monologue. I thought, ‘Who is this guy? This is so wonderful. He is not a big actor. I can take him in my film after I graduate,’” shared Hirani. However, he couldn’t work with Shah Rukh after he graduated from the film institute. “It took me two years to graduate from the film institute and by that time SRK had become a big star!”

SRK on him and Hirani finally doing a film together

Recalling the times when he was offered Munna Bhai MBBS and 3 Idiots, Shah Rukh shared, “When Raju was narrating Munna Bhai to me, I thought, ‘Naya director hai kar hi lega agar main bolunga six-eight mahine baad karenge.’ So, I told him I would do it after nine months. But he went away. Then when he came for 3 Idiots, I again thought, how big he would have become. Then again he went away. That is when I decided ki ab chance nahi lena. So, when he narrated Dunki, I caught him in the Covid-19 bubble and told him not to go away this time!”

“We became so big for each other that it took us some time to come together. So, during the pandemic, I caught him in the bubble and said, ‘Please don’t go away this time, make this film (Dunki) with me’.”

“I didn’t even let Raju meet other heroes,” SRK joked in his trademark style. “I’m still not allowing him, you never know he might add someone in a guest appearance!”

‘Dunki: meant to be more entertaining than Pathaan and Jawan’

SRK said that Dunki “is meant to be more entertaining than Pathaan and Jawan, with a simplicity that captures the heart”.

Talking more about the film, he said, “Dunki is a film that speaks volumes. While Drop 1 intentionally doesn’t reveal much, we have Drop 2 and Drop 3 coming soon to introduce what I am doing in the film, as well as Taapsee’s (Pannu) role.”

Adding further, the actor said, “Working with Raju sir has been a wonderful experience. His films are unique in that the story takes the lead, rather than any particular actor. Of course, in Dunki I will bring dance, romance, and song to the screen. It’s been years since I’ve had the opportunity to romance in a film, and the romance in Dunki is truly beautiful.