As the curtains rise on another prolific year for Hindi cinema, the spotlight centers on none other than the indomitable Shah Rukh Khan. The year 2023 witnessed an extraordinary start with SRK’s Pathaan transforming into an unprecedented blockbuster, setting benchmarks for Indian cinema. Subsequently, Jawan surpassed Pathaan’s records, intensifying the anticipation for SRK’s upcoming venture, Dunki, under the acclaimed directorial guidance of Rajkumar Hirani. The expectations are sky-high, with fans, cinephiles, and stakeholders keen to see if Dunki outdoes its predecessors.
Amidst this fervor, SRK, known for his magnanimous presence and engaging interactions, hosted yet another session of #AskSRK on X, the social platform formerly known as Twitter. It was during this session that he faced an intriguing proposition from a fan, a comparison of the opening day collection of his film Dunki to the IPL auction price for cricket star Mitchell Starc. Starc, the Australian pace spearhead, made a comeback after an eight-year hiatus, with Shah Rukh’s co-owned Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) investing a striking INR 24.75 crore (about $2.975 million) to secure him in their squad.
Even though the question stood out for its peculiarity, SRK did not shy away. True to his witty reputation, he quipped that the earnings from Dunki’s opening day would be his to claim, given his role as the producer. In contrast, the heavy sum spent on Starc was an outlay by him and the KKR.
Speculation and excitement continue to build as Dunki is set to clash with the Prabhas-headlined Salaar Part 1: Ceasefire during the Christmas period. The film industry is abuzz, hoping for both movies to triumph at the box office, satisfying the varied appetite of the audience. Meanwhile, KKR, two-time IPL champions, had a busy auction session with twelve slots to fill. They successfully sealed ten, adding to their robust roster. Aside from the notable acquisition of Starc, the team maintained financial prudence with nine players acquired at base price.
The final composition of KKR’s team for IPL 2024 shines with an array of talent and promise. Retained talent includes Shreyas Iyer as the captain, along with integral players like Nitish Rana, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Jason Roy, Venkatesh Iyer, and seasoned campaigners Andre Russell and Sunil Narine, among others. New additions secured during the auction comprise KS Bharat and Chetan Sakariya for INR 50 Lakh each, and the likes of Sherfane Rutherford, Manish Pandey, and experienced Mujeeb ur Rahman also joined for viable sums, adding depth and versatility to the squad.
Cricket enthusiasts are also keeping tabs on other stories filtering through the cricketing fraternity. Alyssa Healy has expressed that Mitchell Starc’s record-breaking IPL deal stands as a testament to his hard work and dedication to the sport. Moreover, the Gujarat Titans coach Ashish Nehra has recently opened up regarding the transfer saga that saw Hardik Pandya switch to the Mumbai Indians.
This amalgamation of cricketing fervor and cinematic excitement has set a unique stage where sports and entertainment narratives intertwine, courtesy of Shah Rukh Khan’s charismatic influence across arenas. As fans eagerly await the box office performances and cricketing outcomes, Shah Rukh Khan remains a pivotal figure, enchanting audiences and sports fans alike with his unyielding spirit and sharp wit.
