It’s not official as yet. But it’s largely pukka. Vidhu Vinod Chopra, lately awakened from a lengthy creative slumber with 12th Fail, is all set to direct the next film in the Munna Bhai franchise.
Munna Bhai fans have been clamouring for an encore for years now. But the Munna Bhai helmer Rajkumar Hirani has been hemming and hawing over the next Munna Bhai project then-titledMunna Bhai Chale Amrika which was planned right after the second Munna Bhai film Lage Raho Munna Bhai in 2006.
Munna Bhai Chale Amrika was dropped when it was discovered that the plot was similar to Karan Johar’s My Name Is Khan.
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Thereafter we’ve been hearing of the next Munna Bhai film. In 2013 Subhash Kapoor was roped in by producer Vinod Chopra for Munnabhai 3. But nothing happened. Now things are finally moving forward.
A source close to Vinod Chopra reveals, “He has been under pressure to take over the reigns of the Munna Bhai franchise for many years. But Vinod felt the franchise rightfully belonged to Raju Hirani. But now that Raju has moved on -–Dunki is his first production without Vinod Chopra—the Munna Bhai franchise is no longer liable to be attached to Hirani. So yeah, Vinod will direct Munna Bhai 3 and sooner than you think.”
About Munna Bhai MBBS
Released on December 19, 2003, Munna Bhai MBBS is Rajkumar Hirani’s directorial debut. The screenplay was co-written between Chopra and Hirani. Star Sanjay Dutt, who played the title character, acted opposite his father Sanjay Dutt in his final film role before his death. Gracy Singh, Jimmy Sheirgill, Arshad Warsi, Rohini Hattangadi and Boman Irani are part of the cast of the comedy film.