Rajkumar Hirani
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Rajkumar Hirani | |
---|---|
Film editor, Film distributor | |
Years active | 1993–present |
Spouse | Manjeet Hirani |
Children | Vir Hirani[2] |
Awards | Full list |
Rajkumar "Raju" Hirani (born 20 November 1962) is an Indian filmmaker known for his works in
Starting his career as a
After the success of MBBS, he helmed its sequel Lage Raho Munna Bhai (2006), which emerged as the second-highest grosser of the year and the coming-of-age comedy-drama 3 Idiots (2009) emerged as the highest grossing Indian film of its time. Both of them won the National Film Award for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment and were nominated for the Filmfare Award for Best Film, Best Director, Best Screenplay, with 3 Idiots, winning all three categories. His next film, the science fiction religious satire PK (2014), again emerged as the highest-grossing Indian film of its time and the biographical comedy-drama Sanju (2018) based on the life of actor Sanjay Dutt released to critical and commercial success. Both films were nominated for Best Film and Best Director at the Filmfare Awards, with PK winning him the Best Screenplay. Domestically, both films are currently the fifth and seventh highest grossing Bollywood films.[4] He is the founder of the production house Rajkumar Hirani Films. His latest film is Dunki, starring Shah Rukh Khan was released theatrically on 21 December 2023.
Early life and education
Hirani was born on 20 November 1962 in
In his college days, he was involved with Hindi theatre. He had many friends in Nagpur's medical college and hence, spent much time in theatre at the college. Suresh had his son's photographs taken and sent him to an acting school in Mumbai. However, Hirani could not fit in and returned to Nagpur after three days. His father then asked him to apply to the Film and Television Institute of India in Pune, but the acting course had shut down and his chances of admission to the directorial course looked slim as there were far too many applicants.[7] Hirani opted for the film editing course, and earned a scholarship.[8]
Career
Early work (1994–2000)
Hirani tried his luck as a film editor for many years. Bad experiences forced him to shift to television advertising,
He was doing fairly well in the advertising industry, but he wanted to make movies, so he took a break from advertisement and started working with Vidhu Vinod Chopra. He worked on promos and trailers for Chopra's patriotic romance 1942: A Love Story (1994).[11] He edited promotions for Chopra's romance Kareeb (1998).[12] He got his first opportunity as a film editor with Chopra's action drama Mission Kashmir (2000).[13]
Directorial debut and breakthrough (2003–09)
Hirani made his directorial debut with the comedy-drama Munna Bhai M.B.B.S. (2003) starring Sanjay Dutt, Arshad Warsi, Boman Irani, Gracy Singh, Jimmy Sheirgill and Sunil Dutt in lead roles. The first film of the Munna Bhai film series, it revolved around the titular protagonist (played by Dutt), a goon going to a medical school who is helped by his sidekick, Circuit (played by Warsi). The film received positive reviews from critics upon release, with particular praise for Hirani's direction and screenplay. It emerged as a commercial success at the box-office, with a worldwide total of ₹330 million (US$4.1 million), ranking as the eighth highest-grossing Hindi film of the year. Munna Bhai M.B.B.S. won the National Film Award for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment and the Filmfare Award for Best Film (Critics), and earned Hirani his first Filmfare Award for Best Screenplay and his first nomination for Best Director.
In 2006, Hirani directed the second installment of the Munna Bhai franchise, titled Lage Raho Munna Bhai, which retained some of the original cast, including Sanjay Dutt, Warsi, and Boman Irani, and added Vidya Balan as the female lead replacing Gracy Singh. The film proved to be Hirani's highest-grossing release to that point, grossing ₹1.2 billion (US$15 million) worldwide, ranking as the third highest-grossing film of the year. Just like the previous instalment, it won Hirani his second National Film Award for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment, his second Filmfare Award for Best Film (Critics), his first Filmfare Award for Best Story and Best Dialogue, and his second nomination for Best Director.
Widespread success (2009–present)
Hirani's next directorial venture was the coming-of-age comedy-drama
After a 5-year hiatus, Hirani returned to direction with the
He also directed the biographical drama
Hirani directed
Style, themes and influence
When someone says to me, ‘Our minds are preconditioned to believe things, and you gave us a different viewpoint to think,’ I feel like I’ve done something worthy.
— Hirani on his films.[citation needed]
Hirani's films are often based on themes that explore particularly different critical
I believe in God and I believe in religion. But I am against any religion that instills fear. God is misused by many who wish to mint money by scaring people. I believe in the great Hindu principle: 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam' - the whole world is a family. Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, and indeed all religions, teach us brotherhood and love.
All of Hirani's films were co-produced by Vinod Chopra Films till Sanju, after which they broke their ties owing to creative differences.[21] He had edited one of Chopra's films Mission Kashmir (2000) professionally. Hirani has worked consistently with writer Abhijat Joshi since Lage Raho Munna Bhai, and has often cast the same actors in his projects, particularly Sanjay Dutt, who has collaborated with Hirani on three feature films and one film which itself is based on Dutt. Aamir Khan has collaborated on two films with Hirani, one also starring Dutt. Boman Irani has featured in all of Hirani's films in pivotal supporting roles.
Hirani is considered a pioneer of his own cinematic style. He has garnered appraisal from several industry's successful makers and his contemporaries like Karan Johar who said,
I've been pitted against everyone and I feel envious, not jealous. I am envious of Rajkumar Hirani. I've never managed to do what he does. His movies have genius ideas. I don't have the ability perhaps. I would love to make those kinds of movies. He has strong screenplays. I hope I get such screenplays. [22]
Director Anurag Kashyap called him the bravest filmmaker, he added: Generally, we filmmakers get into our subject to prove its poignancy so much that we end up making it less effective for the audience. But Raju didn't do that.[23]
Screenwriter Javed Akhtar praised Hirani's work saying,
"I am a huge admirer of Rajkumar Hirani. He does really good work and now again, he has done an amazing job. I always say one thing about him, that to make such kind of films, you not only have to be a really good director or writer, you have to be really a good human being as well.[25]
Personal life
Hirani married Manjeet Hirani, a pilot in Air India, in 1994. They have a son, Vir Hirani, who is also pursuing filmmaking.
Filmography
Year | Title | Director | Writer | Editor | Producer | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1987 | The Eight Column Fair | No | No | Yes | No | Short film |
1991 | Jab Pyar Kiya to Darna Kya | No | No | Yes | No | |
1994 | Jazbaat | No | No | Yes | No | |
2000 | Mission Kashmir | No | No | Yes | No | |
2001 | Tere Liye | No | No | Yes | No | |
2003 | Munna Bhai M.B.B.S. | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | |
2005 | Parineeta | No | No | No | Creative | |
2006 | Lage Raho Munna Bhai | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | |
2007 | Eklavya: The Royal Guard | No | No | No | Creative | |
2009 | 3 Idiots | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | |
2012 | Ferrari Ki Sawaari | No | Dialogues | Yes | Creative | |
2014 | PK | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
2016 | Irudhi Suttru | No | No | No | Yes | Bilingual film; Hindi version only |
2018 | Sanju | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
2023 | Dunki | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Awards and nominations
Box office
The budgets and box-office figures are all estimates collated from various sources with reputed film portals. All values in Indian
Year | Title | Budget (est.) | Box-office (est.) | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
Worldwide Gross | ||||
2003 | Munna Bhai MBBS | ₹10 crore (US$1.3 million) | ₹56.28 crore (US$7.0 million) | [26][27][28] |
2006 | Lage Raho Munna Bhai | ₹19 crore (US$2.4 million) | ₹126 crore (US$16 million) | [29][30] |
2009 | 3 Idiots | ₹55 crore (US$6.9 million) | ₹400 crore (US$50 million) | [31][32] |
2014 | PK | ₹85 crore (US$11 million) | ₹770 crore (US$96 million) | [33][34] |
2018 | Sanju | ₹96 crore (US$12 million) | ₹586 crore (US$73 million) | [35][36] |
2023 | Dunki | ₹120 crore (US$15 million) | ₹458.93 crore (US$57 million)–₹470.6 crore (US$59 million) | [37] |
References
- ^ "Rajkumar Hirani makes entertainment profound: Boman Irani". The Indian Express. IANS. 21 November 2015. Archived from the original on 10 April 2023. Retrieved 16 September 2016.
- ^ Vyavahare, Renuka. "Rajkumar Hirani's 15-year-old son is a cinematographer - Times of India". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 11 January 2024. Retrieved 7 December 2022.
- ^ "With 5 films and 100% success rate, Rajkumar Hirani is one of the most profitable directors". 5 July 2018. Archived from the original on 7 December 2022. Retrieved 7 December 2022.
- Amrita, Rohira (6 July 2018). "Rajkumar Hirani, The Director Of Quality Not Quantity; Continues To Win Hearts Once More". Business World. Archived from the original on 31 July 2021.
- "Happy Birthday Rajkumar Hirani: A director with 100 percent success ratio". Archived from the original on 7 December 2022. Retrieved 7 December 2022.
- "11 Reasons Why Rajkumar Hirani is the Master of His Art & the Best Storyteller in Bollywood". 29 June 2018. Archived from the original on 6 December 2022. Retrieved 6 December 2022.
- "Rajkumar Hirani is Bollywood's 'middle-class reformer', making us swallow the hard pill". 20 November 2021. Archived from the original on 6 December 2022. Retrieved 6 December 2022.
- "बॉलीवुड के सबसे सफल डायरेक्टर हैं राजकुमार हिरानी, नहीं दी है एक भी फ्लॉप फिल्में". 27 June 2022. Archived from the original on 7 December 2022. Retrieved 7 December 2022.
- ^ "Sanju box office collection day 5: The Rajkumar Hirani film earns Rs 167.51 crore". The Indian Express. 4 July 2018. Archived from the original on 4 July 2018. Retrieved 4 July 2018.
- ^ Hasan Ansari, PK' director Hirani to visit Pakistan in April Archived 20 June 2018 at the Wayback Machine, The Express Tribune, 20 February 2015. Retrieved 31 May 2018.
- ^ "Aiming to Please". Hindustan Times. Archived from the original on 15 July 2011. Retrieved 22 December 2010.
- ^ "Will Munnabhai now takes on religion". Hindustan Times. Archived from the original on 28 September 2009. Retrieved 23 December 2009.
- ^ "From Nagpur to 3 Idiots, Raju Hirani's amazing journey". Archived from the original on 28 January 2021. Retrieved 9 February 2010.
- ^ ""3 Idiots is our comment on what is right or wrong with society" - Rajkumar Hirani". Bollywood Hungama. Archived from the original on 17 December 2009. Retrieved 23 December 2009.
- ^ "Raju Hiraniin fevicol ad". Youtube. Archived from the original on 19 December 2021. Retrieved 23 December 2009.
- ^ "IMDB Title for 1942". IMDB. Archived from the original on 10 March 2010. Retrieved 23 December 2009.
- ^ "IMDB Title for Kareeb". IMDB. Archived from the original on 19 July 2012. Retrieved 23 December 2009.
- ^ "IMDB Title for Mission Kashmir". IMDB. Archived from the original on 18 May 2011. Retrieved 23 December 2009.
- ^ "No More FOMO For Shah Rukh Khan, Because Rajkumar Hirani's Dunki". Archived from the original on 25 April 2022. Retrieved 25 April 2022.
- ^ "Rajkumar Hirani is Bollywood's 'middle-class reformer', making us swallow the hard pill". 20 November 2021. Archived from the original on 6 December 2022. Retrieved 6 December 2022.
- ^ "Masand's Verdict: Lage Raho Munnabhai". Ibnlive.in.com. Archived from the original on 31 March 2012. Retrieved 7 July 2011.
- ^ "11 Reasons Why Rajkumar Hirani is the Master of His Art & the Best Storyteller in Bollywood". 29 June 2018. Archived from the original on 6 December 2022. Retrieved 6 December 2022.
- ^ "Sanju Movie Review". 30 June 2018. Archived from the original on 9 December 2022. Retrieved 9 December 2022.
- ^ "'PK' not disrespectful to any religion: Rajkumar Hirani". 30 December 2014. Archived from the original on 7 December 2022. Retrieved 7 December 2022.
- ^ "More people have died of religious wars than diseases: Rajkumar Hirani". 16 February 2015. Archived from the original on 7 December 2022. Retrieved 7 December 2022.
- ^ "Rajkumar Hirani finally cuts ties with Munna Bhai backer Vidhu Vinod Chopra". www.telegraphindia.com. Archived from the original on 4 May 2023. Retrieved 4 May 2023.
- ^ "Karan Johar Says He is "Envious" of Rajkumar Hirani". Archived from the original on 7 December 2022. Retrieved 7 December 2022.
- ^ "'PK' director Rajkumar Hirani is the bravest filmmaker: Anurag Kashyap". 23 December 2014. Archived from the original on 7 December 2022. Retrieved 7 December 2022.
- ^ "Not Karan Johar, SS Rajamouli a fan of Rajkumar Hirani!". 20 July 2015. Archived from the original on 7 December 2022. Retrieved 7 December 2022.
- ^ "Javed Akhtar: Being a good human being works for Rajkumar Hirani". 3 July 2018. Archived from the original on 7 December 2022. Retrieved 7 December 2022.
- ^ "Munnabhai M.B.B.S." Box Office India. Archived from the original on 1 August 2015. Retrieved 6 June 2016.
- ^ Unnithan, Sandeep (12 April 2004). "Southern film industry rushes for Munnabhai remakes, Hindi sequel in offing". India Today. Archived from the original on 20 October 2022. Retrieved 20 October 2022.
- ^ "Boxoffice". Archived from the original on 1 August 2015.
- ^ "Lage Raho Munnabhai". The Numbers. Nash Information Services, LLC. Archived from the original on 30 June 2007. Retrieved 3 May 2007.
- ^ "Lage Raho Munnabhai". Bollywood Hungama. September 2006. Archived from the original on 7 March 2023. Retrieved 20 March 2023.
"Top Lifetime Grossers Worldwide (IND Rs)". Box Office India. Archived from the original on 2 November 2013. Retrieved 11 May 2012. - ^ "Business of Rs 100-cr films: Who gets what and why". The Economic Times. 26 August 2012. Archived from the original on 21 December 2014. Retrieved 22 February 2015.
- ^ "3 Idiots Box Office Collection". Bollywood Hungama. 25 December 2009. Archived from the original on 17 November 2020. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
- ^ "PK Box Office Collection till Now | Box Collection". Bollywood Hungama. Archived from the original on 19 December 2021.
- ^ "PK". Archived from the original on 15 September 2019. Retrieved 20 March 2023.
- ^ "Sanju – Movie – Box Office India". boxofficeindia.com. Archived from the original on 16 May 2021. Retrieved 20 March 2023.
- ^ "Sanju Box Office Collection | India | Day Wise | Box Office - Bollywood Hungama". Bollywood Hungama. 29 June 2018. Archived from the original on 21 May 2018. Retrieved 20 March 2023.
- ^ "Dunki Box Office". Bollywood Hungama. 23 December 2023. Archived from the original on 21 September 2023. Retrieved 22 September 2023.
External links
- Rajkumar Hirani at IMDb
- Rajkumar Hirani on Facebook