In the latest box office update, Shah Rukh Khan’s newest cinematic venture, Dunki, opened to a lukewarm reception compared to his earlier releases this year. Despite the anticipation surrounding its release, Dunki’s initial performance has not quite met the industry’s high expectations.
Shah Rukh Khan, a name synonymous with blockbuster hits in Indian cinema, has experienced a slight stumble with the opening figures of Dunki. Released on Thursday, the film managed to earn Rs 30 crore nett domestically, as reported by Sacnilk, a notable industry tracker. In the grand hierarchy of opening day collections for the year, Dunki finds itself in the seventh spot after films that have reached or exceeded the Rs 1,000 crore mark worldwide, such as Jawan and Pathaan. It’s worth noting that Jawan, another of Khan’s projects, had a staggering Rs 75 crore opening, setting a high benchmark for Dunki.
Despite Dunki’s opening day figures being less than ideal, it still performed better than a few other releases, namely Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan, which garnered Rs 15.81 crore, Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar which raked in Rs 15.73 crore, Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani with Rs 11.1 crore, and Dream Girl 2 taking home Rs 10.69 crore.
In terms of its theatrical presence, Dunki saw an overall occupancy rate of 29.94% on its debut day. The National Capital Region (NCR) showcased 1,412 shows with an occupancy hovering around 31%, while Mumbai followed closely with 1,081 shows and an occupancy rate of approximately 29.75%. Facing no competition upon release on Thursday, the real test for Dunki came the following day with the release of Prashanth Neel’s highly anticipated multilingual film Salaar. Leading with stars like Prabhas and Prithviraj Sukumaran, Salaar’s box office predictions estimate an impressive Rs 60 crore opening, overshadowing Dunki.
Dunki’s performance is notably stronger than Shah Rukh Khan’s 2018 feature, Zero, which saw an opening collection of Rs 19.35 crore, but only managed Rs 90.28 crore over its lifespan. The comparison highlights that while Dunki hasn’t matched up to Khan’s record-breaking successes this year, it still outperformed some of his past projects.
Rajkumar Hirani, the director known for creating box office gold with nearly every release, has seen a somewhat subdued start with Dunki. To put it into perspective, his 2018 hit, Sanju, starring Ranbir Kapoor, opened at Rs 34.75 crore and ultimately accumulated Rs 342.53 crore. This serves as a stark contrast to the moderate start Dunki has experienced despite a star-studded cast including Taapsee Pannu and Vicky Kaushal, who have become household names in their own right.
While the industry speculates on the factors contributing to Dunki’s opening performance, there is no denying the film’s potential to gain momentum with word-of-mouth promotion and the loyal fan base of Shah Rukh Khan. The coming weeks will be critical for Dunki as it contends with rapidly shifting box office tides and the challenge posed by concurrent releases.
Only time will tell if Dunki will manage to rise beyond its initial days and leave a lasting impression comparable to its predecessors or settle as a modest entry in the vast filmography of Khan and Hirani. Until then, both fans and critics alike will watch closely as the film navigates the competitive waters of the global film industry.
