Munna Bhai 3 Finally Moving? Rajkumar Hirani Brings Farhad Samji on Board, Sanjay Dutt and Arshad Warsi Set for 2027 Return -

Report says the script is in the works and shooting could start next year, but nothing is official yet, so hold your “Gandhigiri” for now

MUMBAI: Bollywood’s most patient fan base may finally have a reason to smile. After more than a decade of “kab aayega?”, a new report suggests Munna Bhai and Circuit could be heading back to the big screen.

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According to a Variety India report, filmmaker Rajkumar Hirani has taken a concrete step on the long-awaited third part of the franchise by bringing writer Farhad Samji on board. The film is reportedly expected to go on floors in 2027, though the production timeline has not been officially confirmed.

Who is Farhad Samji, and why does he matter?

This is not a random hiring. Samji wrote the opening lines of the iconic song “M Bole Toh” and has been tied to the franchise since Munna Bhai M.B.B.S. in 2003. Filming is expected to begin in 2027, subject to the script being finished. The move reunites him with Hirani and producer Vidhu Vinod Chopra after 23 years.

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It also fits the franchise’s family-like feel. Samji’s writing partner Sajid Samji has played the spitting man in both earlier films. Sajid has said he would love to be part of a third film, adding that Hirani has always called him with a role.

Why it took so long

Fans have asked about Munna Bhai 3 ever since Lage Raho Munna Bhai arrived in 2006. The reason for the wait has been simple: Hirani refuses to make it without a great story.

Speaking to Hindustan Times in June, he said, “If you only want to see Munna Bhai up to the interval, I can make five films right now.” The gap he described was everything after the interval.

Arshad Warsi has said three promising scripts already exist. The actor’s earlier remark was that the drafts hold interesting scenes but lack the central thread to bind them. Hirani has also said the core concept exists and has been developed significantly, but the final portion of the narrative is holding everything back. A fresh voice like Samji’s could be the missing piece.

A year of mixed signals

It has been a rollercoaster. Arshad once suggested the film might never happen because Hirani wanted to be “200% sure” about the script. Later he said the filmmaker was seriously working on it and it seemed like it should happen now. Hirani himself told Variety India he was working on a Munna Bhai script and also a 3 Idiots sequel idea. Hirani’s last directorial was Dunki in 2023 with Shah Rukh Khan, and he has largely stayed out of the spotlight since.

The two-franchise juggling act

Hirani is not choosing between sequels. Both Munna Bhai 3 and a 3 Idiots follow-up are in development. That is both an opportunity and a risk. Two massive sequels can keep him busy for years, but they also invite brutal comparisons with two of Hindi cinema’s most loved films. He has also said he would rather wait than force a weak story, which tells you how seriously he takes the legacy.

What the franchise means

Munna Bhai M.B.B.S. followed a lovable goon’s journey into the medical world, and Lage Raho Munna Bhai explored Gandhian philosophy through humour. Between them, the films gave Hindi cinema “Gandhigiri,” “jaadu ki jhappi” and Circuit’s unforgettable one-liners. Sanjay Dutt as Murli Prasad Sharma and Arshad Warsi as his loyal sidekick Circuit remain one of Bollywood’s most loved on-screen duos.

How this affects everyone involved

For Sanjay Dutt, it is a chance to return to the role that arguably defined his post-1990s image. Few characters have aged as lovingly in the audience’s memory as Munna.

For Arshad Warsi, Circuit remains his career-defining part. A return would put him back in front of a pan-India audience.

For Rajkumar Hirani, the pressure is huge. After Dunki, a successful Munna Bhai 3 would restore his reputation as a master of heartfelt comedy. A weak one could dent the legacy of a franchise fans cherish.

For Farhad Samji, writing the film that defines a franchise he has been part of since 2003 would be a career milestone.

The big risks

Nostalgia cuts both ways. Audiences who loved the first two films as teenagers are now in their thirties and forties. They will come with sky-high expectations and a very good memory for every joke. The world has also changed since 2006, with new humour, new audience tastes and a very different theatrical market. The film will have to feel both familiar and fresh.

There is also a timeline risk. “Expected to go on floors in 2027” is not a release date, and the report itself depends on the script being completed. Delays are common, and Hirani’s famously slow, perfectionist process means the finished film may be well beyond 2027.

What happens next

Script completion: Samji is reportedly expected to finish the screenplay soon. This is the crucial milestone.
Official announcement: Neither the makers nor the actors have confirmed the filming schedule or release date. Watch for a formal word from Hirani or Vidhu Vinod Chopra.
Casting questions: Dutt and Warsi are expected to return, but supporting cast details have not been revealed.
2027 shoot: If everything lines up, cameras roll next year, nearly two decades after Lage Raho Munna Bhai.

Also Read: https://ultapaltakhabar.com/keerthy-suresh-reveals-mom-menaka-read-her-secret-diary-and-found-out-about-her-15-year-romance-with-antony-thattil/

The bottom line

For now, this is a positive step, not a green light. But for fans who have waited since 2006, even a step forward feels huge. If Hirani and Samji crack the second half of the story, Munna and Circuit could finally walk back onto a Bollywood set. Until then, the fans’ favourite advice applies: thoda sabr karo, kuch bada hone wala hai. Or, as Munna would say, “Tension nahi lene ka.”

This is a developing story and will be updated as official details emerge.

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