Dunki Release Date: Cast, Home Media Ott, Production and Filming
Dunki is a 2023 Indian Hindi-language comedy-drama film that centers around the illegal immigration method known as "donkey flight." The film is co-written, co-produced, edited, and directed by Rajkumar Hirani, under Rajkumar Hirani Films, along with Jio Studios and Red Chillies Entertainment. It features Shah Rukh Khan, Taapsee Pannu, Vicky Kaushal, and Boman Irani in prominent roles.
The film was officially announced in April 2022, with principal photography starting the same month. Filming took place across multiple locations, including Mumbai, Jabalpur, Kashmir, Budapest, London, Jeddah, and Neom, and wrapped up by late April 2023. Pritam and Shekhar Ravjiani composed the music, while Aman Pant handled the background score. The cinematography was done by C. K. Muraleedharan, Manush Nandan, and Amit Roy, and the editing was done by Hirani himself.
Dunki was released worldwide on 21 December 2023 and received mixed-to-positive reviews from critics and audiences. The film grossed ₹470.6 crore globally, making it the fifth highest-grossing Hindi film of 2023 and the eighth highest-grossing Indian film of the year. At the 69th Filmfare Awards, the film earned nine nominations, with Vicky Kaushal winning Best Supporting Actor.
Cast
- Shah Rukh Khan as Hardayal "Hardy" Singh Dhillon
- Taapsee Pannu as Manu Randhawa
- Vicky Kaushal as Sukhi Singh (special appearance)
- Boman Irani as Geetu Gulati
- Vikram Kochhar as Buggu Lakhanpal
- Anil Grover as Balli Kakkad
- Jyoti Subhash as Santosh Lakhanpal, Buggu's grandmother
- Deven Bhojani as Advocate Puru Patel
- Arun Bali as Manu's older father
- Suhail Zargar as Mahinder Randhawa, Manu's brother
Production and Filming
Rajkumar Hirani approached Shah Rukh Khan for this film during the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020. This marks their first collaboration. The film's screenplay was completed by August 2021, and casting included Taapsee Pannu and Vicky Kaushal in key roles. The film's shooting spanned several locations, from India to international spots like Budapest and London.
Soundtrack
The film's soundtrack was composed by Pritam and Shekhar Ravjiani, with Aman Pant providing the background score. The album, featuring eight songs, was released by T-Series on 18 December 2023.
Marketing and Release
"Dunki: Drop 1," the film's teaser, was released on 2 November 2023, coinciding with Shah Rukh Khan's birthday. The film was promoted through a series of "Drops" leading up to its release. The film was theatrically released on 21 December 2023.
Distribution and Home Media
Pen Studios acquired the North and West India theatrical rights, while Yash Raj Films handled overseas distribution. The combined digital, satellite, and music rights were valued at ₹230 crore, with the film premiering on Netflix on 15 February 2024.
