Renowned Bollywood director Rajkumar Hirani is known for blending humor with profound messages in his movies. In a career spanning two decades, the director has given five massive hits and is now onto his sixth with Shah Rukh Khan’s Dunki. His movies have always spoken to the masses. They have entertained the audience, made them cry, and also helped them become better human beings.
Ahead of the highly-anticipated movie, Dunki, here’s a list of Rajkumar Hirani movies to watch:
3 Idiots (2009)
Streaming On: Amazon Prime Video
A movie that’s loved across all ages, 3 Idiots is written, edited and directed by Rajkumar Hirani. It is co-written by Abhijat Joshi and produced by Vinod Chopra Films. The film loosely adapts Chetan Bhagat’s novel Five Point Someone and features Aamir Khan, R. Madhavan, and Sharman Joshi in the lead roles. It also stars Kareena Kapoor, Boman Irani and Omi Vaidya appear in pivotal roles.
The narration of 3 Idiots occurs through two parallel dramas, one set in the present and the other taking place ten years in the past. The story follows the friendship of three students at an Indian engineering college and is a satire about the social pressures under the Indian education system.
The film had its release on December 25, 2009, and is available for streaming on Amazon Prime Video.
Sanju (2018)
Streaming On: Disney+ Hotstar
A biographical comedy-drama directed and edited by Rajkumar Hirani. Sanju was written by Hirani and Abhijat Joshi. Rajkumar Hirani Films and Vinod Chopra Films produced the film. It stars Ranbir Kapoor, Vicky Kaushal, Sonam Kapoor, Anushka Sharma, Dia Mirza, Paresh Rawal and Jim Sarbh.
The film is inspired by the life of Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt. It focuses on his drug addiction, his arrest for his association with the 1993 Bombay bombings, his relationship with his father, and his acting career. It was titled Sanju after the nickname Dutt’s mother Nargis used to call him.
The worldwide release of Sanju was on June 29, 2018, and it is available for streaming on Disney+ Hotstar.
PK (2014)
Streaming On: Netflix
A science fiction satirical comedy-drama edited and directed by Rajkumar Hirani, PK was written by Hirani and Abhijat Joshi. Rajkumar Hirani Films and Vinod Chopra Films produced the film. It stars an ensemble cast of Aamir Khan, Anushka Sharma, Sushant Singh Rajput, Boman Irani, Saurabh Shukla and Sanjay Dutt.
The film revolves around an innocent alien landing on Earth but losing his communication device. He then meets a heartbroken reporter, who helps him find his device. However, with time, he raises many thought-provoking questions.
PK was released on December 19, 2014, and is available to stream on Netflix.
Munna Bhai M.B.B.S. (2003)
Streaming On: Amazon Prime Video
A satirical comedy-drama written and directed by Rajkumar Hirani, Munna Bhai M.B.B.S. was his directorial debut. Vidhu Vinod Chopra produced the film under the production banner of Vinod Chopra Films. It was released on December 19, 2003.
Hindi cinema considers the film a cult classic, drawing loose inspiration from the American film Patch Adams (1998). Munna Bhai M.B.B.S. stars Sanjay Dura, Sunil Dutt, Gracy Singh, Arshad Warsi, Boman Irani Rohini Hattangadi and Jimmy Sheirgill. It revolves around a gangster who decides to fulfil his father’s dream by becoming a doctor. With a little help from his loyal sidekick, he enrols in a medical college and gets to work.
Munna Bhai M.B.B.S. is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video.
Lage Raho Munna Bhai (2006)
Streaming On: Amazon Prime Video
A second installment in the Munna Bhai film series, Lage Raho Munna Bhai is a sequel to Munna Bhai M.B.B.S. (2003). Rajkumar Hirani, who co-wrote the screenplay with Abhijat Joshi, wrote, edited, and directed the satirical comedy-drama. Vidhu Vinod Chopra produced the film under the production banner of Vinod Chopra Films.
Sanjay Dutt, Arshad Warsi, Vidya Balan, Jimmy Sheirgill, Boman Irani, and Dia Mirza starred in the film, which saw its worldwide release on September 1, 2006. The premise of the film revolves around a gangster who hopelessly falls in love with a radio jockey. But he lies to her about being a true Gandhian and ends up hurting her. However, to make things right, he changes and starts helping people.
Lage Raho Munna Bhai is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video.
