Actor Shah Rukh Khan addressed the delicate issue of illegal immigration in his 2023 film Dunki. However, the intriguing story behind how the Bollywood icon acquired the unique title has recently been revealed by actor and filmmaker Akashdeep Sabir during a podcast discussion.

Akashdeep was the original owner of the title Dunki.

In an interview with Lehren Retro, Akashdeep shared that during the pandemic, he became aware of the perilous journeys illegal immigrants undertake to reach America. He engaged a writer to create four seasons for a series intended for Netflix, securing titles such as The Donkey Route, The Road to Death, and Dunki. At the same time, Rajkumar Hirani was developing a similar concept with Shah Rukh, and they both opted to name their film Dunki.

Reflecting on the situation, Akashdeep recounted, "Rajkumar Hirani had a similar thought process. When Shah Rukh inquired about the film's title, Rajkumar responded with ‘Dunki’. Shah Rukh suggested that Rajkumar should file for copyright, believing that the title was unclaimed. However, Rajkumar informed him, ‘No, Akash has it.’ Upon hearing my name, Shah Rukh reassured, ‘Don’t worry about him, I’ll talk to him.’”

‘I thought it was a prank call’

Akashdeep disclosed that he had known the superstar during his initial days in Mumbai but eventually lost contact. One day, he received a call from Shah Rukh, which he found hard to believe. “I was in my editing room, engrossed in my work, when I got a call from an unfamiliar number. The voice on the other end said, ‘Mote, this is Shah Rukh speaking.’ I initially thought it was a prank. He called me again, and maintaining his usual politeness, he said, ‘I believe I called you at an inconvenient time. Here’s my number; please save it. I’m not on WhatsApp, but you can reach me via SMS. Whenever you have a moment, let me know, and I’ll call you.’ Upon hearing that, I immediately apologized, saying, ‘I’m so sorry; I thought someone was joking with me.’”

Shah Rukh invited me for dinner and requested the title. Akashdeep further shared that the following day, Shah Rukh invited him to dinner, and during their meeting, he inquired about the title of Dunki and whether he could use it for his film. Akashdeep agreed on the spot. He also noted that Shah Rukh Khan arranged a meeting with him, Rajkumar Hirani, and others involved in the project to ensure there were no overlaps or conflicts.

Dunki, which also features Taapsee Pannu and Vicky Kaushal, premiered in December 2023. Shah Rukh is set to appear next in King.

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