One from the mythology
Filmmaker Rajkumar Hirani says the bond shared between the characters of Munna and Circuit is behind the enduring appeal of his ‘Munnabhai’ franchise and promises that the third chapter in the story will be out as soon as he comes up with a crackling idea. Rajkumar made his directorial debut with ‘Munnabhai MBBS’ (2003) and followed it up with the sequel ‘Lage Raho Munnabhai’ in 2006. In the two movies, Sanjay Dutt played the affable goon Munna, while Arshad Warsi essayed the role of his loyal sidekick, Circuit. “Circuit was always there and he was a funny character, but obviously he [Arshad] brought so much life into it. Then for the second one it became very important to make it stronger, and so you’ll see Circuit in the second one has got more to do,” the director, who has reunited with Arshad on his upcoming series ‘Pritam and Pedro’, told PTI in an interview.
What’s happening with the threequel?
Rajkumar Hirani
“If you ask me, one film which I most want to do is ‘Munnabhai’ because, more than any other film, these are the most lovable characters. I’ve always admired them” — Rajkumar Hirani
National level experiment
Ali Fazal as Guddu Pandit
Ali Fazal still remembers how he felt scared to step into the world of Mirzapur, the hinterland crime drama series which became a cult and is now all set to explode on the big screen in a movie version. The actor, who reprises his role of Guddu Pandit, the bodybuilder-turned-gangster in Mirzapur: The Movie, is excited about the buzz surrounding the show’s cinematic extension. The movie will explore an untold chapter from the first season, and also bring back many key characters. “It’s the first time in India that a show is being transformed into a film. It’s a national level experiment that we are doing. The story and the characters are all good. We are excited to share every [promotional] asset,” Ali told PTI in an interview.
Vikrant Massey played Bablu Pandit in ‘Mirzapur’
Vikrant Massey, who exited ‘Mirzapur’ after its first season, in 2022, recently reflected on his journey in the show. He admitted that he still wishes the makers had not killed off Bablu Pandit, his character. “I wish they hadn’t killed me,” Vikrant said with a smile. He further revealed that he never anticipated either his character or the series would become such a massive phenomenon when he first signed
the project
Mighty impressed
Rajkummar Rao in ‘Prahaar’; (right) Ujjwal Nikam
Renowned public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam has lauded Rajkummar Rao, who plays the lead in his upcoming biopic Prahaar, saying the actor has brought authenticity and emotional depth to the film. It revolves around Nikam’s prosecution of Ajmal Kasab, the lone surviving terrorist captured after the 2008 Mumbai attacks. He said, “Rajkummar Rao has delivered a remarkable performance. The film portrays not only my journey as a public prosecutor, but also my life as a husband and a father.”