JAKARTA - Director Rajkumar Hirani explained why Dunki, his film starring Shah Rukh Khan, did not appeal to all audiences. According to Hirani, the theme of illegal immigration in the film is not close to the experience of some cinema audiences.
Launching a report from Gulf News, quoted Thursday, June 25, Hirani said the audience's closeness to the film depends heavily on their life experiences. He compared Dunki to 3 Idiots, his film which discusses the education system and feels close to many families.
"Every film will touch people in a different way. When you make 3 Idiots, the film talks about the education system, which touches every household," Hirani said in an interview with Sanjay Arora on YouTube.
According to Hirani, Dunki is different because the story revolves around illegal immigration. The theme is not experienced by all audiences.
He also alluded to the middle-class audience who are the main market for cinemas. According to Hirani, this group is relatively easier to get a visa than people who don't have money or bank balances.
"Our cinema audience is middle class who can get a visa easily. However, there is also a group of people whose visas will never be approved," said Hirani.
He said some people are not easily connected with their stories who have no opportunity to travel abroad legally.
Even so, Hirani insists he is not disappointed with Dunki. He is still proud of the film, even though the impact is not as big as his previous works.
"It doesn't mean that no one feels connected to the film. I'm still very proud of the film," he said.
Expectations for Dunki were high from the start. The film brings together Hirani, the director behind a number of Bollywood hits, with Shah Rukh Khan. Moreover, Dunki is SRK's third film in 2023 after Pathaan and Jawan.
However, the results did not match the big achievements of SRK's two previous films in the same year. Dunki recorded moderate box office results and received less good reviews.
According to Gulf News, Dunki's idea was born from Hirani's observation of a migration training center in Punjab. In that place, many young people prepare themselves to get a visa to go abroad.
Hirani said that his experience exploring these places was both sad and funny. During the Covid pandemic, he even visited one of the schools wearing a mask and pretending to want to apply.
He then attended a trial class. The room was small, containing 10 to 12 male and female students, all of whom were over 30 years old.
"Those who teach English don't know English. Those who study are actually not very interested. They just want a student visa and move abroad," said Hirani.
Dunki is released in 2023. The film tells the story of a group of friends from a small village in Punjab who dream of settling in England. Because they failed to get an official visa, they took the dangerous route known as donkey flight, an illegal immigration route.
The story centers on Hardy, played by Shah Rukh Khan, and his friends. They face exploitation, safety threats, and emotional pressure along the way.
Apart from Shah Rukh Khan, the film also stars Taapsee Pannu, Vicky Kaushal, and a number of other actors.
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