Rajkumar HiraniThe blockbuster film Munna Bhai MBBS may be considered a cult classic today, but the filmmaker revealed that not everyone was convinced of its success before its release. In a recent conversation, Hirani recalled the skepticism surrounding the film and how some industry insiders predicted it would flop.The filmmaker said that the casting Sanjay Duttwhich is usually associated with action-packed roles, as an aspiring doctor in a comedy-drama set in a hospital is considered a risky move.Recalling a trial screening of the film, Hirani shared with Sanjay Arora, “I remember when the film was finished and we held a trial show. A few people came to see it, including a director. When he saw it, he said to me, ‘What have you done? You have created a disaster. Sanjay Dutt is an action hero, and you’re doing a film with him in a hospital? And you even shot the songs here. At least one song must be shot in a foreign location.‘”
‘You put everyone in a hospital uniform’
Hirani also recalls being criticized for the film’s visual presentation. According to him, the director who attended the screening felt that the film lacked the colorful aesthetics expected from mainstream Hindi cinema at the time.“He also said, ‘This should be a colorful film. The characters should be dressed in colorful clothes. What is it? You put everyone in hospital uniforms,'” Hirani recalled.
Opening day anxiety and an misunderstood thumbs-down
The filmmaker also opened up about his nervousness on the film’s opening day and a moment that initially worried him.“We went to the Gaiety Galaxy, and as we entered the theatre, I asked the gatekeeper what the reaction was to the film. He gave me a thumbs-down sign, and at that moment, my heart sank,” Hirani said.However, he soon realized that he had misunderstood the gesture. “When I entered, I saw that the theater was only about 50 percent occupied. Then I realized that he meant that the occupancy was low and the show was not a house. As a ticket seller, that was all that mattered to him. But inside, I saw that the audience enjoyed the film very much.”Hirani added that he visited several theaters later that day and witnessed the impact of positive word-of-mouth. Later in the evening, one of the cinemas he visited had put up a “Housefull” sign outside, indicating that the audience had flocked to see the movie.
