“Legendary Hrishi-da’s Anand (1971) has been my ‘master-class’ on blending happy-sad-comic emotions with that common-man-connect,” superhit director Raj Kumar Hirani had said by Chaitanya Padukone

In the showbiz industry, also known for its flashy swag-show-baazi, super-hit yet modest four National Awards and eleven Filmfare Awards winning director Rajkumar ( ‘Raju’) Hirani who celebrates his 61^st birthday (Nov 20) is among the rare exceptions, who refuses to let success go to his head.   The maverick yet diligent filmmaker, known for his classic style of storytelling, celebrates his 61st birthday masterfully crafted a Chaplinesque universe of bitter-sweet slice-of-life sentimental, romantic drama making him a top-ranking revered filmmaker in Indian cinema.  The FTII (Pune) alumnus Rajkumar who actually wished to be an actor, was compelled to take up the editing course ( as a last resort)  there and was among the brilliant students who passed out.  Known for his blockbuster movies which include ‘Munnabhai MBBS’ (2003), ‘Lage Raho Munnabhai’, ‘3 Idiots’ followed by ‘PK’ and then bio-pic ‘Sanju’ (2018)

Meanwhile, the consistent blockbuster superhit director Hirani’s upcoming comedy-drama based on illegal immigration (also producer) Shah Rukh Khan-Taapsee Pannu-Vicky Kaushal starrer film titled Dunki ( releasing on 22^nd December 2023 in India ) is steadily reaching a super high-level build-up of audience-expectations! Will it be a bigger blockbuster than ‘Sanju? Only time will tell.

As an eminent senior film journalist, I have personally interviewed former smart TV commercial model and brilliant ad-film-maker Raju Hirani right from the time, ‘showman’ producer ( and director) Vidhu Vinod Chopra launched him 20 years ago as a director with Munnabhai MBBS. Friendly and frank by nature, Rajkumar would always share his box-office success with his entire cast and crew team and his hugely talented co-writers.. At numerous filmy events, MAMI film-festival event (at Chandan Theatre-Juhu)  and even wedding- events of common friends I have met Hirani and chatted with him. Interestingly when I was on the Panel of  Advisory Jury for the Indo-American Society (IAS) Achievers Awards,  I along with the dynamic IAS Vice-President (‘late’) Dr. Arun C. Vakil had unanimously recommended Hirani for a prestigious IAS Young Achievers Award for his extraordinary caliber as a writer-director of Munnabhai MBBS. Which was presented to him on stage with fanfare by top Senior Officials of the US Embassy and the US Consulate

During my personal interactions in the past with Rajkumar Hirani, he shared with me, how he was impressed by the tragicomedy blended with subtle satirical social messages  in  Charlie Chaplin movies. Also how Raju was also highly influenced by legendary film-maker Hrishikesh Mukherjee’s movies especially ‘Anand’ (1971) known for its  happy-sad-comic impactful characterization and common-man emotional connect ! Yet with a strong social message of optimistic hope...

Not just a brilliant film-maker, backed mostly by producer Vidhu Vinod Chopra, the dynamic writer-editor-director Rajkumar has also been a ‘star-maker’ ! In all his directed movies, Hirani has either discovered new talent or re-launched existing talent with a new amazing shock-value look or screen character get-up. In Munnabhai MBBS, Cameo roles actress and chorus-dancer Mumaith Khan became a sensational famous dancer after her hospital ward sensuous guest-appearance item-dance ‘Dekh Le ---Aankhon Mein Aankhen Daal’. Or excellent stage-actor Boman Irani as the crazy yet strict medical college ‘Dean’ Or Arshad Warsi whose tapori-bhai ‘Circuit’ character is still evergreen. Whenever I meet Arshad Wari-bhai, he proudly says, “What director Rajkumar-Sir has done for me with ‘Circuit’ is extraordinary.  A super-excellent lifetime reward in my acting career with all-time recall value. Mera mind-blowing screen-character kabhi ‘short-circuit’ nahin ho sakta hai, in both the Munnabhai movies,” says Warsi with emotional pride