SRK drops first look of 'Dunki' on 58th birthday: A heartwarming story by a heartwarming storyteller
Mumbai, Nov 2: Superstar Shah Rukh Khan unveiled the first look of "Dunki", his upcoming collaboration with filmmaker Rajkumar Hirani, on his 58th birthday, calling the film a "story of simple and real people trying to fulfill their dreams and desires".
The film's first look, dubbed 'Dunki Drop 1' by the makers, was shared by the actor on his official social media handles on Thursday.
"A story of simple and real people trying to fulfill their dreams and desires. Of friendship, love, and being together Of being in a relationship called Home!
A heartwarming story by a heartwarming storyteller.
"It's an honour to be a part of this journey and I hope you all come along with us. The #DunkiDrop1 is here," SRK wrote on X, along with the first look video.
Also starring Taapsee Pannu, Vicky Kaushal, Boman Irani, Vikram Kochhar and Anil Grover, "Dunki" is scheduled to be released in theatres on Christmas.
According to the makers, the film revolves around five friends -- SRK's Hardy, Pannu's Manu, Kochhar's Buggu, Grover's Balli and Kaushal's Sukhi -- and their quest to reach foreign shores.
Drawn from real-life experiences, the movie charts the arduous yet life changing journey they are about to undertake to make their dreams come true, as per the plotline.
A JIO Studios, Red Chillies Entertainment and Rajkumar Hirani Films presentation, "Dunki" is produced by Rajkumar Hirani and Gauri Khan. It is written by Hirani, Abhijat Joshi, and Kanika Dhillon.
A story of simple and real people trying to fulfill their dreams and desires. Of friendship, love, and being together… Of being in a relationship called Home!
— Shah Rukh Khan (@iamsrk) November 2, 2023
A heartwarming story by a heartwarming storyteller. It's an honour to be a part of this journey and I hope you all come… pic.twitter.com/AlrsGqnYuT
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EC transferred over 50 officials, it's political interference of highest order: Mamata
Kolkata (PTI): West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday expressed alarm over the "arbitrary removal of more than 50 senior officials" in the poll-bound state, terming it a "political interference of the highest order".
Continuing with her tirade against the Election Commission, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo claimed that such action amounted to "systematic politicisation of institutions" and a "direct assault on the Constitution".
After announcing the schedule for the assembly polls, the Election Commission has ordered several reshuffles of senior officers, including the transfer of Chief Secretary Nandini Chakravorty, Home Secretary Jagdish Prasad Meena, and the removal of DGP Peeyush Pandey and Kolkata Police Commissioner Supratim Sarkar.
On Wednesday, the poll body ordered a fresh reshuffle of senior officers, posting two secretaries to other poll-bound states as observers, and deploying 13 IAS and five IPS officers in key poll management roles.
Slamming the poll body, Banerjee took to X to claim that more than 50 senior officials had been "summarily and arbitrarily removed" even before the formal notification of elections.
"The manner in which the Election Commission has singled out and targeted Bengal is not just unprecedented -- it is deeply alarming.
"Even before the formal notification of elections, more than 50 senior officials... have been summarily and arbitrarily removed. This is not administrative action; this is political interference of the highest order," she said.
Banerjee alleged that senior officers from agencies such as IB, STF and CID were being "selectively removed" from the state.
She further alleged "contradictions" in the poll panel's actions, claiming that officers removed from their posts were being assigned as election observers.
"This is not governance. It reflects chaos, confusion, and sheer incompetence being passed off as authority," she said.
Describing the situation as "nothing short of an undeclared emergency", Banerjee alleged that there was a "deliberate design to seize control of West Bengal through coercion and institutional manipulation".
"I stand in complete solidarity with every officer of the Government of West Bengal and their families… Bengal has never bowed to intimidation, and it never will," she added.
Along with the post, the chief minister also attached images of the Election Commission's notifications, ordering the removal and transfer of top state officials to substantiate her claims.
The TMC supremo described the special intensive revision of electoral rolls as "deeply flawed" and went on to say that at a time when the process is underway and "over 200 lives have already been lost, the conduct of the commission reflects a clear bias and an uncomfortable submission to political interests".
Banerjee also claimed that supplementary electoral rolls were yet to be published "in clear disregard of the Supreme Court's directions..
Questioning the intent of the ruling BJP at the Centre, she said, "Why is the BJP so desperate? Why this relentless targeting of Bengal and its people? What satisfaction do they derive from forcing citizens, even after 78 years of Independence, to stand in queues and prove their own citizenship?"
