Shah Rukh Khan's 'Dunki' falls flat against 'Pathaan' & 'Jawan'

In the world of Bollywood blockbusters, Shah Rukh Khan has long been hailed as the "King of Bollywood." His magnetic presence on screen and knack for delivering hit after hit has made him a beloved figure in the hearts of millions. However, every journey has its ups and downs, and it seems that Khan's latest venture, 'Dunki,' has encountered a bit of turbulence at the box office.

The much-anticipated 'Dunki,' directed by the acclaimed Rajkumar Hirani, hit theaters with high hopes, aiming to create the same magic that Khan's earlier releases, 'Pathaan' and 'Jawan,' managed to conjure this year. Unfortunately, the first-day collections for 'Dunki' tell a different story, painting a picture of a film struggling to soar to the same heights as its predecessors.

According to the Hindustan Times, 'Dunki' managed to rake in only ₹30 crore on its debut day in India, falling significantly behind the impressive ₹57 crore garnered by 'Pathaan' and the staggering ₹89.5 crore earned by 'Jawan' on their respective opening days. The stark contrast in these numbers marks 'Dunki' as Khan's lowest first-day opener this year.

Critics, too, have weighed in on the film, offering a range of opinions from mixed to positive. Monika Rawal Kukreja of the Hindustan Times acknowledged Shah Rukh Khan as the star attraction in 'Dunki' but noted that the film presented him in a familiar avatar, one that audiences may have encountered multiple times before.

Sukanya Verma, writing for Rediff, described 'Dunki' as high on ambition but lamented its flimsy premise, making the nearly three-hour-long journey into far-fetched adventures hard to believe and even harder to buy into.

Anuj Kumar, contributing to The Hindu, assessed 'Dunki' as "not the best of Hirani" but conceded that it had just enough elements to elicit chuckles and stir emotions.

Shubhra Gupta of The Indian Express, however, offered a more critical perspective, deeming 'Dunki' a "crashing bore" and dubbing it as Rajkumar Hirani's weakest film.

In the midst of these varying reviews and the lukewarm box office performance, the fate of 'Dunki' hangs in the balance. The film, despite its star-studded cast and the proven track record of its director, seems to have failed to capture the audience's imagination in the same way that 'Pathaan' and 'Jawan' did earlier in the year.

It's important to note that in the unpredictable world of cinema, a film's success is often a blend of various factors, from storytelling and direction to audience expectations and prevailing trends. While 'Dunki' may not have soared to the same heights as its cinematic companions, the diversity of critical opinions suggests that it still manages to resonate with certain viewers.

In the grand tapestry of Shah Rukh Khan's illustrious career, 'Dunki' might be a mere blip on the radar, a momentary setback in a journey filled with countless triumphs. Only time will tell whether this film, despite its initial challenges, will find its footing and leave a lasting impact on the hearts of its audience. As the curtains draw on the opening weekend, the Bollywood aficionados eagerly await the unfolding chapters of 'Dunki's' cinematic journey.