With Dunki, it’s a homecoming of sorts for Kanika Dhillon. Over 16 years ago, she began her Bollywood journey with Shah Rukh Khan’s Red Chillies Entertainment as a script supervisor and assistant director. Today, she shares the writing credit on the superstar’s Christmas offering. “I am a fan first, so I was happy that I got to work with him again. I hope I get to do more work with him because that’s the dream,” begins Dhillon, who has co-written Dunki with director Rajkumar Hirani and Abhijat Joshi.

During her four-year stint at Khan’s production house, Dhillon served as an assistant director on Om Shanti Om (2007), and wrote the screenplay and dialogues of Ra.One (2011). As she turns producer with Katha Pictures, she is reminded of her days as a rank newcomer. “Shah Rukh is the best mentor I’ve ever had. He has taught me most of the things I know about storytelling and Bollywood. Also, I have worked with so many people, but I haven’t seen a producer like Shah Rukh. He is magnanimous, and teaches you to be a better human being.”