 "Rajkumar Hirani and Shah Rukh Khan's Dunki Feels More Relevant Than Ever As The US Deports Illegal Indian Immigrants, Netizens Want A Re-Release")
Rajkumar Hirani, the master storyteller behind some of Bollywood’s most impactful and entertaining films, has a way of making social issues resonate with the masses. With Dunki, he took on the subject of illegal immigration, blending humor, emotion, and drama in his signature storytelling style. The 2023 film captured the struggles of Indians using the perilous ‘Dunki route’ to chase their foreign dreams. Now, as real-life stories of mass deportations dominate headlines, netizens believe the film deserves a second theatrical run—arguing that its message is more relevant than ever.
In recent weeks, the United States has intensified deportations of Indian nationals who entered the country illegally, many through dangerous backdoor routes. Several deported individuals have shared harrowing accounts of their journeys—trekking through inhospitable terrains, falling prey to human traffickers, and ultimately facing arrest and deportation. These real-life struggles mirror Dunki’s central theme, making its narrative more timely than ever.
Many X (formerly Twitter) users are of the opinion that this is the best time to re-release Dunki, which depicts the pain of these immigrants.
One user wrote, “#Dunki should be re-released—it’s the perfect time, and I’m sure it will surpass its first-run earnings. The timing couldn’t be better.”
Another added, “SRK and Raju Hirani should re-release Dunki now that illegal immigration is in the news. People face worse than just handcuffs when caught. And at least India is accepting them back—China refuses to take in (though this time they’ve said they will).”
Dunki features an ensemble cast, with colorful characters portrayed by exceptionally talented actors Boman Irani, Taapsee Pannu, Vicky Kaushal, Vikram Kochhar, and Anil Grover, along with Shah Rukh Khan. A JIO Studios, Red Chillies Entertainment, and Rajkumar Hirani Films presentation, produced by Rajkumar Hirani and Gauri Khan. Written by Abhijat Joshi, Rajkumar Hirani, and Kanika Dhillon, Dunki was released on the big screen on December 21, 2023.
What does Dunki mean?
Shah Rukh Khan said at an event in 2023, “Dunki is an illegal trip a lot of people take to get out of their country across borders all over the world. It is called the Donkey Travels.”
The term Donkey Flight (termed as “dunki” in Punjabi) originated from the Punjabi idiom which means ‘to hop from place to place.’ This method of entering borders illegally has gained popularity among migrants, particularly those hailing from Indian states such as Punjab, Haryana, and even Gujarat.
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