Rajkumar HiraniHis 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.In the casting, the producer of the film Sanjay DuttWho was then mainly associated with action-packed roles, as an aspiring doctor in a comedy-drama set in a hospital was seen as a risky move.Recalling a trial screening of the film, Hirani shared with Sanjay Arora, “I remember when the film was finished and we were doing a trial show. Some people came to see including the director. After watching, he said to me, what did you do? You have made a disaster. Sanjay Dutt is an action hero, and you are making a movie about him in which hospital? And you’ve shot music here. At least one song should have been shot in a foreign location.‘”
‘You put everyone in hospital uniforms’
Hirani also remembers being criticized for the film’s visual presentation. According to him, the director present at the screening felt that it lacked the colorful aesthetic expected of mainstream Hindi cinema at the time.“He also said, ‘It should have been a colorful film. The characters should have worn colorful clothes. What is this? You put everyone in hospital uniforms,'” Hirani recalled.
Open day concerns and a misunderstanding thumbs-down
The filmmaker also opened up about his nervousness on the opening day of the film and a moment that initially worried him.“We went to the Gaiety Galaxy, and upon entering the theater, I asked the doorman what the reaction to the film was. He gave me a thumbs-down sign, and at that moment, my heart sank a little,” Hirani said.However, he soon realized that he had misunderstood the hint. “When I went inside, I found that the theater was about 50 percent occupied. Then I realized that he meant that the occupancy was low and the show was not a house full. As a ticket seller, that’s all that matters to him. But inside, I found that the audience was thoroughly enjoying the film.” Hirani added that he visited several theaters later that day and witnessed the positive buzz. By evening, one of the cinemas he visited already had a “Housefull” sign posted outside, indicating that audiences were flocking to see the film.
