Shah Rukh Khan’s call about Dunki tite left Akashdeep Sabir in disbelief: “Mote, Shah Rukh bol raha hoon”

Actor Shah Rukh Khan tackled the delicate issue of illegal immigration in his 2023 film Dunki. But have you ever wondered how the Bollywood superstar acquired the unique title for the Rajkumar Hirani-directed comedy-drama? Actor-filmmaker Akashdeep Sabir recently revealed in a podcast how Shah Rukh obtained the title from him.

In a conversation with Lehren Retro, Akashdeep shared that during the pandemic, he learned about illegal immigrants navigating harsh terrains to reach America. He then hired a writer to develop a four-season series, which was planned for production by Netflix. He had also secured titles such as The Donkey Route, The Road to Death, and Dunki. Meanwhile, around the same time, Rajkumar Hirani was working on a similar concept with Shah Rukh Khan, and they decided to name their film Dunki.

Recalling the incident, Akashdeep shared, “Rajkumar Hirani thought on the same lines. Then, Shah Rukh said, ‘What is the film’s title?’ Then he said, Dunki. Shah Rukh asked Rajkumar to apply for a copyright, assuming nobody would have claimed this title. Then Rajkumar said, ‘No, Akash has it’. As soon as Shah Rukh heard my name, he said, ‘Don’t worry about him, I’ll speak with him.’”

Akashdeep shared that he had known Shah Rukh Khan during his early days in Mumbai but had lost touch over time. So when he suddenly received a call from the superstar, he was in disbelief. “I was in my editing room, working on something, when I got a call from an unknown number. The voice on the other end said, ‘Mote, Shah Rukh bol raha hoon.’ I thought someone was playing a prank on me. He called again and, as always, was polite. He said, ‘Hey, I think I called you at the wrong time. This is my number, please save it. I am not on WhatsApp, but you can reach me via SMS. Let me know when you’re free, and I’ll call you.’ The moment I heard that, I realized it was really him and quickly apologized, saying, ‘I’m so sorry, I thought someone was pranking me.’”

Akashdeep shared that the very next day, Shah Rukh invited him for dinner. During their meeting, Shah Rukh brought up the title Dunki and asked if he could use it for the film. Without hesitation, Akashdeep agreed on the spot. He also mentioned that Shah Rukh arranged a meeting with Rajkumar Hirani and others involved in the project to ensure there were no similarities or conflicts between their works.

Dunki, featuring Taapsee Pannu and Vicky Kaushal, was released in December 2023. Shah Rukh Khan will next be seen in King.

Also Read : EXCLUSIVE: John Abraham recalls Shah Rukh Khan pretending to like his protein past on Pathaan sets; says, “Later, he admitted that it tasted like cardboard stored in a refrigerator”

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