Munna Bhai Chale America was shelved as it was very similar to Shah Rukh Khan film, says Arshad Warsi: ‘It’s better than many films today’

Mentioning that he initially felt like rejecting the offer, thinking that it would be yet another inconsequential part, much like the couple of acting jobs that Vidhu Vinod Chopra, who co-wrote and produced Munna Bhai MBBS, had offered him earlier, Arshad recently revealed that he had a change of heart as a result of a conversation he had with someone en route to the makers’ office to say no to the movie. “I no longer wanted to do small roles. So, I was on my way to tell him that, ‘Sir, please call me only if you have good roles. If I keep doing such small characters, my career will be ruined.’ On the way, I met Ritambhara (tarot card reader Ritambhara Dewan), and I told her about these things,” he said during a chat with The Lallantop.

Dhurandhar Box Office Collection Worldwide Day 24 Update: Ranveer Singh film enters Rs 1100 cr club globally, earns Rs 862.23 cr gross in India

Arshad Warsi recalls interaction with tarot card reader that made him say yes to Munna Bhai MBBS

He further told her who all were associated with the project and noted that even Tabu was part of the movie at that point. Ritambhara immediately checked her cards and insisted that he do the film, predicting that it would turn out to be good and emerge as a success. “I told her, ‘You don’t understand how the industry works. Considering the kind of roles that I have been receiving, even if the movie turns out to be the world’s best, nobody would still recognise me.’ I reiterated that this, too, would be a terrible role and that I shouldn’t do it.” She, meanwhile, also predicted that the makers were looking to change the female lead.

Actor Sanjay Dutt and Arshad Warsi in film MUNNA BHAI MBBS. Express archive photo

Upon reaching Vidhu’s office, Arshad spoke his mind. However, he immediately noticed Gracy Singh there and learned that she had replaced Tabu due to the latter’s date issues, thus realising that one part of Ritambhara’s prophecy had come true. Yet, he still wasn’t interested in doing the movie. However, Arshad decided to take it on for Rajkumar Hirani, whom he came to like. “My only request was to give me the freedom to have fun.” Revealing that the character’s original name was Khujli, the actor said it was changed at his suggestion because the initial name reminded him of the roles Kader Khan used to play. He also stated that many of the scenes and humour that made it to the final cut were a result of improvisation, which the filmmaker was fine with. By the time they joined forces again in Lage Raho Munna Bhai (2006), Arshad said Rajkumar Hirani had understood his pulse so well that everything he had planned for the character was already in the script.

Also Read | Rajesh Khanna stood in line for a public toilet with a dabba; it gave him his last hit; Dimple Kapadia called his state ‘pathetic’

During the conversation, the actor also revealed why Munna Bhai Chale America, planned as the third instalment in the franchise, was shelved after the release of an announcement poster. Arshad stated that they dropped the project since they felt it bore too many similarities to a Shah Rukh Khan movie. “As far as I know, My Name Is Khan’s (2010) story turned out to be very similar to that of Munna Bhai Chale America. In this movie too, we both (Munna Bhai and Circuit) were to meet the US president. Rajkumar Hirani does not like it when his work resembles other movies. Upon learning about Oh My God (2012), he rewrote PK’s (2014) second half three times.” Arshad also mentioned that Rajkumar Hirani has three scripts ready for the third instalment and added that all of them are far better than most movies that make it to screens these days.