“Why Would I Take Money From Shah Rukh Khan?”: Dunki Title Owner Recalls SRK’s Polite Request & Dinner Invite

Filmmaker Akashdeep Sabir opens up about how Shah Rukh Khan personally requested the Dunki title, their emotional reunion, and why he gave it away for free.

March 28, 2025: Shah Rukh Khan has often been hailed for his charm and humility — and filmmaker Akashdeep Sabir has a story that perfectly proves it. The Don actor personally called Akashdeep to request the title Dunki for Rajkumar Hirani’s 2023 film, and their heartwarming exchange has now gone viral.

Also Read: Salman Khan on Age Gap Criticism: “People Have Made It Difficult to Work with Actresses Like Ananya, Janhvi”

During the pandemic, Akashdeep was developing a Netflix series inspired by the infamous “Donkey Route” used by illegal immigrants trying to enter the West. He had shortlisted three potential titles for the series — The Donkey Route, The Road to Death, and Dunki. Unbeknownst to him, director Rajkumar Hirani was working on a film based on a similar concept starring Shah Rukh Khan — and they too had decided on the title Dunki.

Also Read: Tom Cruise Reportedly Wooing Ana de Armas: “She’s Letting Herself Be Swept Off Her Feet”

As soon as SRK learned that Akashdeep owned the title, he reportedly said, “Don’t worry, I’ll talk to him,” and picked up the phone. Recalling the moment in an interview with Lehren Retro, Akashdeep said, “I got a call from an unknown number. The voice said, ‘Mote, Shah Rukh bol raha hoon.’ I thought someone was pranking me.”

Also Read: Salman Khan’s ‘Sikandar’ Tickets Soar to ₹2200 as Advance Booking Frenzy Grips Multiplexes and Single Screens

Akashdeep and Shah Rukh go way back — he was part of SRK’s early world tours and was even present with Vivek Vaswani when Shah Rukh first came to Mumbai to pursue acting. After a few years of no contact, this surprise call rekindled their old friendship.

In their second conversation, SRK confirmed it was really him, exchanged pleasantries, spoke about Akashdeep’s family, and invited him to Mannat for dinner. “He remembered I used to stay up late and even joked, ‘Are you still like me, awake till 5 in the morning?’” Akashdeep fondly recalled.

Eventually, the two met along with Rajkumar Hirani and the Dunki team. Scripts were shared to ensure there was no conflict in storyline. Then came the request. “He politely asked for the Dunki title. I said, ‘Sure, take it.’ Later, someone from his office called asking how much I wanted. I said, ‘Nothing! I wasn’t going to use it. Why would I take money from Shah Rukh Khan?’”

Praising SRK, he added, “He’s still the same. A gentleman. So sharp, so respectful. He deserves every bit of the success he has today.”

Dunki, starring Shah Rukh Khan, Taapsee Pannu, and Vicky Kaushal, was released in December 2023 and marked the first collaboration between SRK and Rajkumar Hirani.

---

🏷️ Tags:

Shah Rukh Khan, Dunki title story, Akashdeep Sabir, Rajkumar Hirani, Dunki Netflix series, SRK Dunki request, Bollywood behind the scenes, Dunki backstory, Shah Rukh Khan kindness, Dunki SRK movie, SRK Akashdeep dinner, Dunki trivia, Bollywood nostalgia