Munna Bhai 3 Moves Closer to Production as Rajkumar Hirani Brings Farhad Samji on Board for 2027 Shoot
One of the most loved comedy franchises in Indian cinema is finally moving again. Munna Bhai 3, the long awaited third chapter of the Munna Bhai series, has taken a big step forward, with director Rajkumar Hirani bringing writer director Farhad Samji on board to develop the screenplay. According to a report by Variety India, Samji is currently writing the film, and the makers are planning to begin shooting in 2027.
For fans, this is the clearest sign in years that Munna and Circuit could return to the big screen. The franchise began with Munna Bhai M.B.B.S. in 2003 and continued with Lage Raho Munna Bhai in 2006. Both films were huge successes, loved for their humour, heart and simple message that kindness and honesty can change people. Since then, a third film has been discussed, delayed, rewritten and debated for two decades, but it never reached the shooting stage.
The new report changes the mood around the project. It suggests that Hirani, who has always said he would only make a sequel when the script felt right, has found a fresh voice to help crack the story. Samji is expected to finish writing the film shortly, and if the script meets Hirani expectations, cameras could roll in 2027, more than twenty years after the second film released.
| Quick Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Film | Munna Bhai 3, third part of the Munna Bhai franchise |
| Director | Rajkumar Hirani, director of both earlier Munna Bhai films |
| Writer on board | Farhad Samji, currently writing the screenplay |
| Planned shoot | 2027, subject to the final script meeting Hirani expectations |
| Expected stars | Sanjay Dutt as Munna, Arshad Warsi as Circuit, as per reports |
| Earlier films | Munna Bhai M.B.B.S. (2003) and Lage Raho Munna Bhai (2006) |
| Official release date | Not announced yet, and no official title confirmed |
Why This Update Matters So Much
Munna Bhai 3 has been one of Bollywood most asked about sequels for years. Every interview with Hirani or Arshad Warsi eventually turns to the same question: when will Munna return? The answer has always been the same. The script is not ready yet. Hirani has said many times that he does not want to make a sequel only because it would earn money at the box office. He wants a story that can stand next to the first two films.
That honesty is part of why fans still trust the franchise. Munna Bhai M.B.B.S. was not just a comedy. It was a story about a lovable gangster who joins medical college to impress his father and ends up changing the hospital with warmth and humour. Lage Raho Munna Bhai took the idea further, pairing Munna with the spirit of Mahatma Gandhi and turning Gandhigiri into a household word. Both films mixed laughter with a message, and that mix is hard to repeat.
Bringing Farhad Samji into the writing room is therefore a meaningful move. Samji is not new to the franchise. He contributed to the original film music in 2003, writing the opening refrain of the popular song M Bole Toh. He also has long experience writing and directing mainstream Hindi comedies. Hirani has said he wanted someone with a fresh voice on the franchise, and Samji fits that description.
What Variety India Reported
According to Variety India, Farhad Samji is currently writing Rajkumar Hirani Munna Bhai 3. The report says Samji will finish writing the film shortly, and the film is scheduled to go on the floors in 2027. For the original report, see the Variety India exclusive on Hirani and Samji reuniting for Munna Bhai 3. In a conversation with Variety India, Hirani spoke about developing a new Munna Bhai film and said he did not want to make a sequel unless he was satisfied with the script. That is why he brought Samji on board, to write the script with a fresh voice.
It is important to be clear about what is confirmed and what is reported. The makers have not issued an official announcement with a release date or a confirmed title. The 2027 shooting plan comes from reports based on the Variety India story. Hirani himself has confirmed in past interviews that a new Munna Bhai film is in development, but he has always tied progress to the script.
That distinction matters because Munna Bhai 3 has seen many false starts. Over the years, several scripts were discussed, and at one point Hirani spoke about three or four scripts sitting with him, each with strong moments but none complete. He has described the problem in a memorable way, saying he could make five films if he only needed to write up to the interval, but he had not found the right ending. A fresh writer gives the project a new path to that ending.
The Long Wait for a Third Film
The wait for Munna Bhai 3 has lasted longer than the gap between most famous sequels. Lage Raho Munna Bhai released in 2006, which means fans have waited twenty years for a follow up. In that time, both Sanjay Dutt and Arshad Warsi have spoken about the project often, and both have said they would return if the script was right.
Arshad Warsi, who plays Circuit, Munna loyal friend and comic partner, has said that multiple versions of the story were written over the years. He described three scripts as genuinely better than most scripts he had ever heard, with beautiful thoughts and scenes, but none of them was finished to Hirani satisfaction. That detail tells you a lot about the standard Hirani sets for himself. He would rather wait than release a weak sequel.
There were also other ideas along the way. An older concept called Munna Bhai Chale America was discussed years ago but never made. Hirani has since said the team is working on a brand new Munna Bhai film rather than reviving an old idea. During promotions for his OTT series Pritam Pedro, he confirmed again that work on a new Munna Bhai film is actively underway.
What Made the First Two Films Special
To understand the excitement, it helps to remember what made the franchise special. Munna Bhai M.B.B.S. introduced Sanjay Dutt as Murli Prasad Sharma, a Mumbai gangster known as Munna Bhai, who pretends to be a doctor to please his parents. When the truth comes out, he joins a real medical college and wins over doctors, patients and professors with his simple philosophy of love and a warm hug, called Jaadu Ki Jhappi.
Lage Raho Munna Bhai kept the same heart but raised the ambition. Munna starts seeing Mahatma Gandhi and begins practising Gandhigiri, solving problems with truth and non violence instead of threats. The film turned a history lesson into a comedy that families watched together, and its message travelled far beyond the cinema hall.
Both films worked because the comedy served the story, not the other way round. Munna and Circuit were funny, but they were also kind, loyal and easy to root for. A third film has to find a new idea with the same warmth. That is the challenge Samji writing must solve, and it is why Hirani has waited so long.
What About Sanjay Dutt and Arshad Warsi
Reports suggest the plan is to bring back Sanjay Dutt as Munna and Arshad Warsi as Circuit. Neither casting has been formally announced by the makers, but both actors are closely tied to the characters, and fans find it hard to imagine the franchise without them. Dutt Munna is one of his most loved roles, and Warsi Circuit is the perfect partner, quick with a joke and loyal to the end.
The two actors have also kept the franchise alive in public memory. They have spoken about it in interviews, joked about the delay, and said they want the third film to happen. Their chemistry is a big reason the series lasted in popular culture for two decades, through memes, dialogues and repeat television screenings.
There is also the question of what Munna and Circuit would look like in 2027. The characters would return to a very different India from 2006, with smartphones, social media and a new generation of viewers who know the films through streaming and clips. A smart script could use that change for comedy while keeping the old warmth intact. That balance is exactly what Hirani films are known for.
How This Fits Hirani Other Projects
Hirani has more than one beloved sequel in development. He has also spoken about a sequel to 3 Idiots, his 2009 blockbuster starring Aamir Khan, R. Madhavan and Sharman Joshi. In past interviews he said he and longtime collaborator Abhijat Joshi are still developing that script too, looking at what happens to Rancho, Farhan and Raju years after college, as married men with children.
He has said he has three or four scripts with him at the moment and will have to decide soon which way to walk. The Munna Bhai 3 update suggests that decision may now be leaning towards Munna first, with Samji writing and a 2027 shoot in sight. Hirani is also set to work with Shah Rukh Khan on a biographical film on Dadasaheb Phalke, though that project is still in scripting and has not gone on floors yet.
For fans, the order matters less than the progress. After years of vague updates, a named writer and a target shooting year is the most concrete news the franchise has had in a long time.
Is Munna Bhai 3 officially confirmed?
Rajkumar Hirani has confirmed that a new Munna Bhai film is in development, and Variety India reports that Farhad Samji is writing it with a 2027 shoot planned. However, the makers have not yet announced an official release date or title.
Who will star in Munna Bhai 3?
Reports point to Sanjay Dutt returning as Munna and Arshad Warsi returning as Circuit, but no formal casting announcement has been made by the makers so far.
When will Munna Bhai 3 release?
No release date has been announced. Reports say shooting is planned for 2027, which means a theatrical release would likely follow after filming and post production are complete.
Why did Munna Bhai 3 take so long?
Hirani has said many times that the script was the hurdle. He did not want to make a sequel unless the story felt worthy of the first two films, and he had not found the right ending despite several drafts.
Final Thoughts
Munna Bhai 3 moving towards a 2027 shoot is the news fans have waited twenty years to hear, but the wise move is to enjoy it with patience. The film is still in the writing stage, and Hirani own rule has always been clear: no script, no film. Farhad Samji arrival gives the project fresh energy and a real deadline, and that is a big change from years of waiting. If the script lands, Munna and Circuit will return to a cinema that still quotes their dialogues and still believes in Jaadu Ki Jhappi. That is a comeback worth waiting for, and worth getting right.
