Rajkumar Hirani’s blockbuster film Munna Bhai M.B.B.S may be regarded as a cult classic today, but the filmmaker has revealed that not everyone was convinced about its success before its release. In a recent conversation, Hirani recalled the skepticism surrounding the film and how some industry insiders predicted it would fail.The filmmaker said that casting Sanjay Dutt, who was then largely associated with action-packed roles, as an aspiring doctor in a comedy-drama set in a hospital was viewed as a risky move.Recalling a trial screening of the film, Hirani shared with Sanjay Arora, “I remember when the film was completed and we were holding a trial show. A few people had come to watch it, including a director. After seeing it, he told me, ‘What have you done? You’ve made a disaster. Sanjay Dutt is an action hero, and you’re making a film with him set in a hospital? And you’ve even shot the songs here. At least one song should have been filmed at a foreign location.’”
‘You’ve put everyone in hospital uniforms’
Hirani also remembered being criticised for the film’s visual presentation. According to him, the director who attended the screening felt the film lacked the colourful aesthetics expected from mainstream Hindi cinema at the time.“He also said, ‘This should have been a colourful film. The characters should have been dressed in colourful clothes. What is this? You’ve put everyone in hospital uniforms,’” Hirani recalled.
Opening-day anxiety and a misunderstood thumbs-down
The filmmaker also opened up about his nervousness on the film’s opening day and a moment that initially left him worried.“We went to Gaiety Galaxy, and while entering the theatre, I asked the gatekeeper what the reaction to the film was like. He gave me a thumbs-down sign, and at that moment, my heart sank a little,” Hirani said.However, he soon realised he had misunderstood the gesture. “When I went inside, I saw that the theatre was only about 50 per cent occupied. Then I realised that he meant the occupancy was low and that the show wasn’t housefull. As a ticket seller, that’s all that mattered to him. But inside, I could see that the audience was thoroughly enjoying the film.” Hirani added that he visited several theatres later that day and witnessed the impact of positive word-of-mouth. By the evening, one of the cinemas he visited had already put up a “Housefull” sign outside, indicating that audiences were flocking to watch the film.
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