Director Rajkumar Hirani has opened up about the underwhelming box office performance of Dunki, starring Shah Rukh Khan, stating that the film’s subject matter naturally limited its audience reach.
Speaking in a recent video, Hirani said that unlike broadly relatable themes such as education in 3 Idiots, Dunki focused on illegal immigration, which he believes connects with a narrower section of viewers.
“Every film touches different people differently,” Hirani said, explaining that while some viewers, especially those living abroad or with personal migration experiences, deeply resonated with the film, many domestic audiences could not fully relate to its premise.
He added that cinema audiences in India are largely middle-class viewers who may not face visa restrictions, whereas those who struggle with migration barriers or illegal immigration experiences represent a comparatively smaller audience segment.
Despite the film’s commercial performance, Hirani maintained that he is satisfied with its emotional intent and the conversations it has generated among viewers who connected with its themes.
