Everyone remembers the iconic jadoo ki jhappi moment from Munna Bhai M.B.B.S., when Sunil Dutt’s character forgives his son, played by Sanjay Dutt, and the two embrace. It’s a scene that continues to resonate with fans, so much so that it was even recreated in Sanju, the biopic on Sanjay Dutt’s life.
In an old interview with Wild Films India, Sanjay Dutt reflected on the film, his character, and most significantly, working with his father Sunil Dutt for the very first time on screen. “It was a great experience working with him. I’d never done a scene or a film with him before, so it was a big moment, and I was scared from the beginning, but he eased me up,” he said. “Nervous just because he is my father and I respect him a lot.”
He added that the warmth and tension seen between them on screen was a reflection of their real-life bond. “I think they saw what we are like in real life, as he scolds me a lot, in the film too.” Sanjay also recalled his first reaction to the film’s narration by director Rajkumar Hirani, saying he quite literally “fell off the chair” and instantly agreed to do it.
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Not many people know, but there’s a touching bit of trivia associated with that iconic hug scene. Rajkumar Hirani once revealed that even after he called “cut,” Sunil and Sanjay Dutt remained locked in that embrace, both in tears. It was a deeply emotional moment, not just for them, but for the entire crew who witnessed it up close.
In fact, in a recent exclusive conversation with SCREEN, Rajkumar revealed that he has an idea for Munna Bhai 3 that he’s genuinely excited about, and has already begun working on it. He also joked that if he doesn’t make another Munna Bhai film soon, Sanjay Dutt might get angry with him.
