In Bollywood, the collaboration between Shah Rukh Khan and Rajkumar Hirani has proven to be nothing short of magical. The third box office sensation of 2023, aptly named “Dunki,” marks a triumphant union between the iconic actor and the acclaimed director. This collaboration, however, wasn’t an overnight success. In this article, we delve into the intricacies of their cinematic journey, shedding light on the actor’s relentless pursuit of excellence and his motivations for creating timeless classics at the heart of Indian cinema.
In a recent interview with MBC Group, Shah Rukh Khan fondly referred to Rajkumar Hirani as his “old friend.” The roots of their camaraderie can be traced back to the moment when Hirani approached Khan with a script titled “Munna Bhai MBBS.” At that time, Khan was engrossed in the shooting of Devdas. The actor recalled, “This gentleman came and said, ‘I have a script’. And I said, ‘Okay, let’s meet day after tomorrow, I’m doing this film next’. He said, ‘You haven’t heard it’. I said, ‘I love the title, it’s a fantastic title, Munna Bhai MBBS’.”
Despite his initial enthusiasm, fate took a different turn. Sanjay Dutt eventually assumed the role of Munna Bhai, and the film emerged as a massive success, revitalizing Dutt’s career. However, this setback did not deter Shah Rukh Khan from pursuing collaboration with Hirani.
Shah Rukh Khan Breaks Silence On Why He Did Not Do Munna Bhai MBBS And 3 Idiots
The narrative of collaboration between Khan and Hirani took a significant turn with the inception of “3 Idiots.” Khan confessed that this was a “very ambitious project” for him, leading to his initial reluctance to compromise by juggling between multiple sets simultaneously. As a result, Aamir Khan stepped into the shoes of Ranchoddas Shamaldas Chanchad, delivering a stellar performance that contributed to the film’s immense success not only in India but also on the global stage.
Reflecting on the collaboration, Khan revealed, ”This gentleman came and said, ‘I have a script’. And I said, ‘Okay, let’s meet day after tomorrow, I’m doing this film next’. We worked on the script, we did the casting together. But there was a timing issue, one of my films got delayed, and I had a setback with another injury… I told him to finish it off.”
Shah Rukh Khan’s commitment to the craft is evident in his willingness to overcome physical challenges. During the making of Munna Bhai MBBS, Khan dedicated several months to collaborating with Rajkumar Hirani. However, a sudden spine surgery threw a curveball, leaving the actor uncertain about his recovery timeline.
The saga continued with “3 Idiots,” where the duo faced yet another timing challenge. Despite their collaborative efforts in script development and casting, unforeseen delays in one of Khan’s projects and an additional setback due to injury prompted Khan to prioritize the project’s completion over his own involvement.
