Shah Rukh Khan’s comedy drama Dunki brought in Rs 1.60 crore on its third Monday in India, registering the lowest earnings since its December 21 release. The film’s total domestic collections now stand at Rs 218 crore, nearing the Rs 227 crore lifetime collection of Chennai Express in the country.
Globally, Dunki has surpassed Chennai Express’ lifetime total of Rs 422 crore, grossing over Rs 445 crore in 19 days. However, the film is still viewed as an underperformer given pre-release expectations billing it as a surefire box office smash.
Dunki’s muted reception comes despite a coveted Christmas release date and Shah Rukh Khan’s first collaboration with acclaimed director Rajkumar Hirani. Reviews praised Hirani’s trademark humor but criticized the film’s length and lack of tonal consistency.
The film’s legacy may be that it is the first post-pandemic comedy drama to put up these numbers, after failures like Aamir Khan’s Lal Singh Chaddha and Salman Khan’s Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan.
For Shah Rukh, Dunki caps off a successful year featuring blockbusters Pathaan and Jawan. He will next cameo alongside daughter Suhana Khan in action thriller The King.