'Rooftop Plane To Visa Guruduwara': Rajkumar Hirani Shares What Inspired Him To Make Dunki

The much-anticipated Shah Rukh Khan starrer Dunki hit theatres nationwide today, generating considerable excitement among fans. During a recent media interaction, the film’s director, Rajkumar Hirani, shared the intriguing inspiration behind the movie.

In a promotional and interactive video titled “Dunki Diaries" posted on YouTube, superstar Shah Rukh Khan hosted the session. During the engaging discussion, Shah Rukh prompted director Rajkumar Hirani to unveil the genesis of the film’s idea. The director then shared an unusual image of a house with an aeroplane embedded in its roof. Rajkumar explained that houses in Jalandhar and nearby areas feature cement aeroplanes as a cultural phenomenon. These structures serve as a symbol of pride for families when a member, particularly a child, travels abroad. Rajkumar expressed his fascination with this architectural trend, prompting him to delve into the reasons behind it.

In the video, Rajkumar further delved into the narrative, highlighting the Shaheed Baba Nihal Singh Gurudwara, colloquially known as the Visa Wala Gurudwara. He revealed that people visit this Gurudwara to pray for successful visa applications, offering plastic planes during worship as a symbolic gesture. This unique custom, aimed at expediting visa approvals, inspired Rajkumar to conduct further research, ultimately leading to the conception of Dunki.

Apart from that, Hirani also shared how he sneaked into a coaching centre in a Punjab village where people get trained for IELTS. He was amazed looking at the coaching techniques and he decided to add this to the film. Incidentally, Boman Irani, as seen in the trailer, was portrayed as an English tutor.

The film was released worldwide on December 21, 2023, and features a star-studded cast, including Shah Rukh Khan, Tapsee Pannu, Vicky Kaushal, Boman Irani, Dia Mirza, Satish Shah, and Vikram Kochhar. Produced by Gauri Khan, Rajkumar Hirani, and Jyoti Deshpande under the banners of Jio Studios, Red Chillies Entertainment, and Rajkumar Hirani Films, Dunki is a cinematic venture with a budget of Rs 120 crore. Pritam has composed the music for the film.