Monday, 18th February 02:00 PM IST







There is good news for Munnabhai fans —twice over. Not only Rajkumar Hirani will don the director's hat for the third instalLment of the franchise, producer, Vidhu Vinod Chopra, has also announced a fourth film in the series. Both the films will be shot backto-back and Sanjay Dutt and Arshad Warsi will reprise their roles as Munna Bhai and Circuit.


The formal announcement regarding the developments will be made soon. Explaining how the fourth part shaped up, a source from Hirani's office told: "Hirani and Vidhu were discussing the story of the third Munnabhai film. As things developed, they realised that there was a story within the story and there was scope to develop it into a separate film.


Both had a long meeting regarding this and finally decided to add a fourth instalment to the franchise."

Although, there were reports that Habib Faisal of Band BaajaBaraat fame or Rajesh Mapuskar, who was the associate director for Lage RahoMunna Bhai might direct thethird instalment instead of Hirani, the producer has kept his faith on thedirector of the previous two films of the franchise.


A source close to the developments said: "Just as in the first film whereHirani had Sunil Dutt playing Sanjay's father, he is planning to spring asurprise in the third." Earlier, Hirani had told that the third part willhave a real-life setting much like the previous two. Hirani will start shootingthe third part around Christmas in India, and the fourth film might see Munnabhai and his sidekick travelabroad for the first time. However, the director of the fourth film is yet tobe decided.


Names of Faisal or Mhapuskar are already doing the rounds. The source said:"The fourth film will have an ensemble cast. Though Hirani will not wieldthe megaphone for the fourth part, he will be creatively involved in it."

When contacted, Vidhu Vinod Chopra's spokesperson confirmed the story.