Third Munna Bhai awaits a strong script

New film in the franchise Munna Bhai Ki Aatma Katha ‘to be better than the previous two’.

MUMBAI:

Director Rajkumar Hirani, who has delivered super hits like Munna bhai MBBS and Lage Raho Munna Bhai, says the third film in the series has been delayed by the lack of a strong script.

“We have always wanted to make the third film but it is getting delayed because it shouldn’t look like we are making it only for money,” said Hirani.

The third instalment was named Munna Bhai Chale Amerika, but it was shelved. Now the new film in the franchise is said to be called Munna Bhai Ki Aatma Katha.”We want the third to be better than the previous two so, it is getting delayed because script-wise it still needs to be strong, but we will definitely make the third film,” the 49-year-old said.

Hirani confirms that actors Sanjay Dutt and Arshad Warsi, who played Munna and Circuit in the earlier two films respectively, will continue playing the primary characters. “Sanju is Munna bhai, I can’t imagine anybody else as Munna bhai. Sanju and Arshad as Circuit,” he said.

Dutt says being a part of Munna Bhai changed his life. “From my career, my daily life to my image, everything has changed because of Munna Bhai, it’s so important,” the 52-year-old said. “It is a memorable film, a memorable role. Actors very rarely get a chance to do such a role and I think I am lucky,” he added.

In the 2003 film Munna Bhai MBBS, Dutt played a faux medical student, who has a different, endearing way of treating people. In the second film Lage Raho Munna Bhai, he played a faux professor, and the film became popular for Dutt’s Gandhigiri — his practice of using non-violent methods to solve people’s personal problems.

Dutt is currently shooting for Race 2, Zilla Ghaziabad, SOS — Son of Sardar and Department. 

Published in The Express Tribune, April 4^th, 2012.