Filmmaker Rajkumar Hirani has recalled early criticism faced by his 2003 hit Munna Bhai MBBS, revealing that a fellow director had dismissed the Sanjay Dutt-starrer as a “disaster” after attending its trial screening. The film, which eventually went on to become a landmark success in Hindi cinema, was initially met with scepticism over its unconventional setting and narrative choices.

Speaking in an interaction with Sanjay Arora, Hirani said that the reaction from some industry insiders during the film’s preview screening was far from encouraging. He noted that one director in particular questioned the decision to cast an established action star like Sanjay Dutt in a role set largely within a hospital environment, wearing uniforms instead of the stylised costumes typically associated with mainstream Bollywood entertainers.

According to Hirani, the filmmaker criticised multiple creative aspects of the project, including its visual tone and song placements. “What have you done? You’ve made a disaster,” Hirani recalled the director saying. The critic reportedly argued that Dutt’s action-hero image was being underutilised and suggested that the film lacked the glamour and visual appeal expected of commercial cinema at the time.

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The director also objected to the film’s aesthetic choices, stating that at least one song should have been shot in a foreign location and that the entire presentation should have been more colourful. He reportedly said that the characters, instead of wearing hospital uniforms, should have been styled in more vibrant costumes to enhance the film’s commercial appeal.

Despite the early negative feedback, Munna Bhai MBBS went on to become a major box-office success and is now considered one of the most influential films in modern Hindi cinema. The film’s unique blend of humour, emotion and social messaging helped redefine mainstream storytelling and established the “Munna Bhai” franchise as a cultural phenomenon.

The success of the film also marked a turning point in the careers of both Hirani and Sanjay Dutt. It showcased a softer, more humane side of Dutt’s screen persona and set the stage for Hirani’s reputation as a filmmaker known for combining entertainment with strong emotional narratives. Over time, the film’s initial critics were proven wrong as it gained widespread acclaim from audiences and critics alike.

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