"PK" has become the highest grossing Indian film overseas with a collection beyond Rs.620 crore.
On the 16th day since its release across 4,500 screens in China, it had reportedly minted Rs.100 crore, and it's still counting.
The director thought that "the movie might not run all that good in China".
He said: "There are no temples where people go and worship. But I was surprised. And from what I heard from china, I think people are enjoying the story. It is something new there."
"We have similar family values, we have similar taste, I think people connect to that. A lot of films have released there, but this one ('PK') has done exceptionally well. And it is an interesting thing that another market is opening for us," Hirani added.
The movie, which also features Anushka Sharma and Sushant Singh Rajput, released in China on May 22.