Rajkumar Hirani’s next film, Dunki, to star Shah Rukh Khan and Taapsee Pannu; see video

Shah Rukh Khan will star alongside Taapsee Pannu in filmmaker Rajkumar Hirani's next project, Dunki (2023).

Khan's Red Chillies Entertainment will present the film along with Jio Studios and Rajkumar Hirani Films. Produced by Hirani and Gauri Khan, Dunki is due to be released on 22 December 2023.

Khan and Pannu revealed the big announcement today; both stars sounded slightly awed to be working with Hirani, whose directorial ventures have worked wonders at the box office.

The makers also shared a clever, humorous short video where Khan is seen admiring the posters of Hirani’s previous films. When the director himself pops up, the actor praises his iconic creations and characters, played by actors Ranbir Kapoor, Aamir Khan and Sanjay Dutt.

When he sheepishly asks if there’s a film for him, Hirani says he has a script in mind that has comedy, emotions and romance. However, the actor is a bit taken aback by the title, which he mishears as ‘Donkey’.

The actor seems apprehensive about the title but tells himself to accept the project nevertheless. The film's title is then unveiled in a visual where men are seen walking across an arid desert while an aeroplane flies overhead. The word ‘Dunki’ then slowly emerges from the sand.

Khan, whose last film was Zero (2018), will make cameos in Rocketry: The Nambi Effect, Brahmastra — Part One: Shiva and Laal Singh Chaddha. He will be seen as a RAW agent in Yash Raj Films' Pathaan with John Abraham and Deepika Padukone.

Pannu, meanwhile, will next be seen in the Mithali Raj biopic Shabaash Mithu (2022).