The wait for Munna Bhai 3 has been unusually long even by Bollywood sequel standards, mainly because the first two films left such a lasting pop culture imprint. Rajkumar Hirani’s Munna Bhai M.B.B.S. turned Sanjay Dutt and Arshad Warsi into one of Hindi cinema’s most loved odd couple pairings, while Lage Raho Munna Bhai widened the franchise’s appeal with its socially rooted humour and emotional pull. With that kind of legacy behind it, any third chapter carries pressure to match the warmth and impact audiences still associate with the series.
Now, Hirani has offered a straightforward explanation for why the project has not moved forward despite years of buzz. Munna Bhai 3 is not off the table, but it is still stuck at the writing stage because the filmmaker has not yet cracked an ending he feels confident about. Complicating the timeline further is the fact that he is also considering several other story ideas, including a possible follow up related to 3 Idiots.
Munna Bhai 3 Script Progress Hinges On One Missing Piece
In an official interaction with Variety India, Hirani indicated that the core concept for Munna Bhai 3 exists and has been developed significantly, but the final portion of the narrative is holding everything back.
He said, “For Munna Bhai, I had an idea which is done to a larger level, but still, I haven’t found the right end for it.”
What that effectively signals is that the delay is not about lacking a premise or struggling with the tone. The film appears to have a broad framework, yet Hirani is unwilling to lock the script without a conclusion that feels earned. Given how strongly both Munna Bhai M.B.B.S. and Lage Raho Munna Bhai are remembered for their emotional payoff, the director’s insistence on getting the landing right is unsurprising. For a franchise built on heart as much as humour, the ending is often what decides whether the story feels timeless or merely functional.
Rajkumar Hirani Is Also Balancing Multiple Projects
At the same time, Hirani suggested that Munna Bhai 3 is part of a larger decision he has to make about what he directs next. With several scripts on his table, the filmmaker appears to be at a point where choosing one project could push the others further down the line.
He said, “I have three or four scripts with me at the moment, and I’ll have to pretty quickly take a call on which way to walk now.”
That statement puts the Munna Bhai 3 update in context. Even if the ending issue is solved, scheduling and prioritisation could still influence when the sequel actually reaches production.
Where A 3 Idiots Sequel Idea Fits Into The Picture
Hirani also acknowledged that one of the ideas he is weighing involves 3 Idiots. While this does not confirm an immediate greenlight or a formal sequel announcement, it does indicate that the director is creatively entertaining multiple directions, including revisiting one of his most popular titles.
For audiences tracking Munna Bhai 3, the takeaway is clear. The film is still in active development, but it is not at a stage where timelines can be pinned down. The next major movement depends on two factors: whether Hirani finds the “right end” to complete the script, and which of his shortlisted projects he chooses to take forward first.
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