Legendary Director’s Silly Logic to Cover It Up?

Filmmaker Rajkumar Hirani has sparked debate with his recent comments about the underperformance of Dunki, starring Shah Rukh Khan. While promoting his new OTT series, which marks the launch of his son, Hirani suggested that the film did not become a major box-office success because its central theme, illegal immigration to the United States, did not resonate with a large section of the Indian audience.

His remarks have drawn comparisons with director Siddharth Anand’s explanation for the box-office performance of Fighter. After the film failed to meet expectations, Anand had argued that many Indians could not connect with the story because air travel is still not a regular part of their lives.

The statement was widely criticized for appearing disconnected from audience sentiment and for shifting blame away from the film itself. Now, Hirani’s comments have triggered a similar reaction on social media.

Many cinephiles believe that a film’s success depends on storytelling, emotional depth, and execution rather than whether audiences have personally experienced the situations depicted on screen.

Several iconic films have connected with viewers despite exploring worlds and experiences far removed from their everyday lives.Given Hirani’s reputation as one of India’s most respected filmmakers, many expected a more nuanced assessment of Dunki’s performance.

Critics argue that attributing a film’s underwhelming reception solely to its subject matter oversimplifies the complex reasons behind box-office outcomes.