Munna Bhai M.B.B.S. and Sanju posters
Rajkumar Hirani is celebrating his birthday today. The filmmaker is making headlines for his upcoming directorial, Dunki. Starring Shah Rukh Khan, Taapsee Pannu, Vicky Kaushal, Boman Irani and others, the socio-drama around the concept of Donkey Flight will release on December 22, 2023. He returns to the director's chair after Sanju in 2018.
On Rajkumar Hirani Birthday 2023, here's tracking the box office reports of the filmmaker's previous films. From the cult classic Munna Bhai M.B.B.S. to Sanjay Dutt's biopic, Sanju, take a look at how his films fared at the ticket counter.
Munna Bhai M.B.B.S.
Munna Bhai M.B.B.S. was about a local goon named Munna who pretended to be a doctor before his parents to make them proud. However, reality disclosed, his parents distanced themselves from him. In order to redeem himself and seek revenge from Dr Asthana who caused the problem, Munna enrolled himself at a medical college to get the doctor's degree.
According to reports, Munna Bhai M.B.B.S. was made on a budget of Rs. 10 crores in 2003. The socio-drama starring Sunil Dutt, Sanjay Dutt, Arshad Warsi, Boman Irani, Gracy Singh and Rohini Hattangadi was lauded by the critics and the audience also appreciated it. The film collected Rs. 31.01 crores in India whereas the overseas collection was Rs. 3.81 crores.
Lage Raho Munna Bhai was not exactly a sequel to Munna Bhai M.B.B.S. but a completely new story with Sanjay and Arshad returning as Munna and Circuit. Boman was cast in a different role. Lage Raho Munna Bhai saw Munna exchange in a conversation with Mahatma Gandhi who taught him important live lessons. Vidya Balan joined the cast as the lead.
As per reports, Lage Raho Munna Bhai was a blockbuster at the box office in 2006. Made on a budget of Rs. 22.00 crores, it collected Rs. 100.78 crores in India and Rs. 24.20 crores overseas. It was a commercial and critical success. The film was declared tax-free in several states.
3 Idiots
3 Idiots remains Rajkumar's most acclaimed film to date. With 3 National Awards in 2009, it broke records at the box office too. The film starred Aamir Khan, R Madhavan, Sharman Joshi, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Boman Irani, Omi Vaidya and Mona Singh. 3 Idiots was about three friends studying at an engineering college and their ambitions.
Reportedly, 3 Idiots was declared an All-Time Blockbuster as it made Rs. 460.00 crores collectively on a budget of Rs. 55 crores. The India box office was Rs. 274.00 crores whereas the film's overseas collection was Rs. 186.00 crores.
PK
In 2014, PK reunited Aamir and Rajkumar after 3 Idiots. The film was about an alien who landed on Earth. He lost his remote control to communicate with his fellow aliens. The locals name him PK due to his absurd activities and behaviour. During his stay on Earth, he sought God's help to find his lost remote. This set the film's tone and explored topics like religious divide and superstition.
Reportedly, PK's India collection was Rs. 507.00 crores whereas the overseas report stated that the film earned Rs. 285.00 crores. As per reports, the socio-drama was made on a budget of Rs. 85.00 crores.
Sanju
Sanju was a biographical film on the life of Sanjay Dutt. It primarily revolved around his alcoholism, jail sentence, loss of parents, relationships and friendships. Ranbir Kapoor played the titular character with Paresh Rawal, Manisha Koirala, Vicky Kaushal, Anushka Sharma, Dia Mirza and Sonam Kapoor in key roles.
The biopic was reportedly made on a budget of Rs. 100 crores and collected Rs. 438.50 crores in India. The overseas collection was Rs. 150 crores. Sanju was declared an all-time blockbuster in 2018.
