Rajkumar Hirani's first choice for ‘Munna Bhai M.B.B.S.’ was Anil Kapoor; Shah Rukh Khan and Aishwarya Rai were also approached

Rajkumar Hirani's directorial debut, Munna Bhai M.B.B.S., released in 2003, is a landmark film in Indian cinema, known for its unique blend of comedy and drama. While Sanjay Dutt's portrayal of Murli Prasad Sharma, affectionately known as Munna Bhai, became iconic, it may come as a surprise that he was not the first choice for the role. In fact, Hirani initially envisioned Anil Kapoor as the lead actor. This revelation adds an intriguing layer to the film's backstory and highlights the twists of fate that often accompany filmmaking.
During an interview on Film Companion's show My First Film, Rajkumar Hirani had shared insights into his casting process. He mentioned that after considering Anil Kapoor, both Vivek Oberoi and Shah Rukh Khan were also in the running for the role of Munna Bhai. Hirani recounted how he approached Shah Rukh Khan while he was busy shooting another project. Despite this, Khan expressed interest in the script after reading it and even encouraged Hirani to narrate it to Aishwarya Rai, with whom he was working at the time on Devdas.

However, fate intervened when Khan suffered a spinal injury that required surgery, making his participation impossible. Reflecting on this period, In a video shared by thebollywoodorryginals on Instagram, Shah Rukh Khan can be seen explaining that, “I could not do Munna Bhai because I was injured at that time. I had undergone a spinal operation. I was not sure when I’ll be able to join.” He acknowledged that waiting for him was not a viable option for Hirani, who was making his debut and needed to move forward with production.
Ultimately, Sanjay Dutt stepped into the role of Munna Bhai, which significantly impacted his career trajectory. The film not only revitalized Dutt's image, but also showcased his ability to embody a character that resonated deeply with audiences.

A decade later Shah Rukh Khan and Rajkumar Hirani finally joined forces for the 2023 film Dunki.




Get an chance to win ₹5000 Amazon Voucher by taking part in India's Biggest Habit Index! Take the survey here