Munnabhai and Circuit have not only endeared themselves to their fans in their second innings on the big screen but if reports are to be believed they have also managed to conquer the box office.

“Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine Munna and Circuit would become so iconic,” says the Director of the film, Rajkumar Hirani.

Lage Raho Munnabhai is already a hit, five days after its release.


Starring Sanjay Dutt and Arshad Warsi, in probably their career-best roles, the film opened to packed theatres last weekend earning Rs 11 crore in Mumbai territory alone.

As eager cinema-goers continue to throng the ticket counters, despite the ‘Housefull’ boards, everyone has their own reason for falling to the charm of the lovable taporis.

While some say it’s for the “Jaadu Ki Jhappiâ€?, others claim it’s because “He’s a man with a good heartâ€?.

“They are characters we can relate to because of their innocence,” says another.

The Director, however, finds his own reasons. “They are real characters but underdogs, like Robinhood perhaps. That’s the chord they’ve struck with people,â€? says Hirani.

Munna’s new-age philosophy also seems to have touched the right chord with people - it goes by the name of Gandhigiri.

So what you have here is an endearing mix of little fights and morality going hand-in-hand as our desi Santa Claus suffers a ‘chemical locha’ in his brain and begins to see Bapu all over Mumbai city.

And the masses understand the subtlety. “It’s a brilliant concept. We’ve forgotten about the Mahatma, it’s an eye-opener,” says one. “It has a message in a light way,â€? says another.

Not many know that Rajkumar Hirani was adamant on not doing another film after the success of the first one, but the popularity of Munna and Circuit has already prompted him to start looking for a third adventure and who knows, may be more.

“I feel they should go on and even grow old,” says Hirani.