In an interview with Screen, Chopra revealed that the now-iconic film had a rocky start, with distributors doubting its potential beyond Mumbai. He recalled, “Munna Bhai MBBS opened to empty theatres. It’s the movie that made me rich, but that’s because nobody bought that film outside of Mumbai.”
Vidhu Vinod Chopra recalls Munna Bhai MBBS earning Rs 1 crore at a single centre in Chennai after being rejected by South Indian distributors: “It’s the film that made me rich”
The filmmaker went on to share a telling anecdote about a distributor from South India who had agreed to purchase the film for Rs 11 lakh. However, upon previewing the film just four days before its release, the distributor backed out, convinced that it would not resonate with audiences in the South due to its heavily Mumbai-centric language and humour.
“He said, ‘Sir, this film won’t work even for a day. Nobody outside of Mumbai would get the language of Munna Bhai,” Chopra recalled.
From Rejection to Rs 1 Crore in a Single City
With no buyers in the southern market, Chopra turned to his friends Shyam and Bala Shroff, who offered him a morning slot at 11 am in a Chennai cinema. Taking a gamble, he sold a print of the film there for Rs 5 lakh. What followed was nothing short of remarkable.
“My final business from that one centre was over Rs 1 crore,” Chopra said, highlighting how word-of-mouth eventually drew audiences in, even though the initial days saw little to no footfall.
“When You Do Good Work, It Pays Off”
Despite the early setbacks, Munna Bhai MBBS went on to become a massive box office success and a turning point in Hindi cinema. Starring Sanjay Dutt in the titular role, the film introduced audiences to a refreshing blend of humour, emotion, and social commentary. It also marked the beginning of a much-loved franchise.
Reflecting on the journey, Chopra summed it up simply: “Nobody went to see the film the first day or the second day. But when you do good work, (it’ll pay).”
Speaking of the professional front, Vidhu Vinod Chopra’s last directorial venture was Vikrant Massey’s 12th Fail.
More Pages: Munnabhai MBBS Box Office Collection , Munnabhai MBBS Movie Review
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