Film maker Vidhu Vinod Chopra recently spoke at the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa. He covered several topics, including a revelation that stated Sanjay Dutt was never really in the script for the legendary lead part in ‘Munna Bhai MBBS’.
The ‘12 Fail’ director said that a different actor had been chosen to play Munna Bhai but had abruptly withdrawn from consideration. Sources claim that Sanjay Dutt was initially selected to play Jimmy Shergill’s character but ultimately ended up playing the lead. Sanjay didn’t even read the screenplay before taking the part, Chopra continued.
“Some other star was supposed to be Munna Bhai. I won’t mention his name, my wife will kill me. He, as usual, what stars do, backed out at the last moment for whatever reasons,” said the filmmaker.
He informed Sanjay that he would be playing Munna Bhai in the movie, and the latter remarked nonchalantly, “I’ll do whatever you say.” Vidhu Vinod Chopra mentioned how Sanjay Dutt didn’t even read the script no matter how much they tried. After the filmmaker gave the script to the actor, he returned one and a half hours later saying the script was great but Vidhu knew he didn’t read even a single page.
Though the Vidhu didn’t disclose the name of the actor who was the first choice for the role, Shah Rukh Khan in one of his old interviews mentioned how he was offered ‘Munna Bhai M.B.B.S.’ but he couldn’t do it because of his spinal injury. The timing was simply not right as on the one hand, Shah Rukh was injured, and on the other hand, he was shooting ‘Devdas’ when he signed Munna Bhai. He got a call from Rajkumar Hirani who wanted to know when SRK join the movie. With all due respect to him, Shah Rukh mentioned that Raj was doing his first movie back then, and being the first-time director it would have been difficult for him to wait for a star.