Archive · 31 Aug 2026
20 Years Later, Hirani Revisits Gandhi’s ‘Gandhigiri’ Inspiration
Lage Raho Munna Bhai is a comedy-drama made by Rajkumar Hirani.
The film introduced the idea of “Gandhigiri,” or using Gandhi’s ideas to solve problems.
Hirani became interested in Gandhi after watching a film about him.
He then read Gandhi’s autobiography and other books.
At first, Hirani imagined Gandhi travelling through time to modern India.
Later, he created a story about a Mumbai don named Munna Bhai.
Munna changes after learning about Gandhi’s principles and seeing visions of him.
Actor Dilip Prabhavalkar played Gandhi and won a National Award for the role.
Rajkumar Hirani said his fascination with Mahatma Gandhi inspired Lage Raho Munna Bhai.
Hirani’s interest in Gandhi began after watching Richard Attenborough’s 1982 biopic Gandhi.
He initially imagined a story in which Gandhi travelled through time to 2006 India.
The idea evolved into a story about Mumbai don Munna Bhai and his sidekick Circuit.
Dilip Prabhavalkar won a National Award for playing Gandhi in the film.
- Who
- Filmmaker Rajkumar Hirani, actors Dilip Prabhavalkar, Sanjay Dutt and Arshad Warsi, and the characters Gandhi, Munna Bhai and Circuit.
- What
- Hirani recalled how his fascination with Mahatma Gandhi inspired Lage Raho Munna Bhai and its idea of “Gandhigiri.”
- When
- The recollection came 20 years after Lage Raho Munna Bhai; the film was released in 2006.
- Where
- The story is set around Mumbai and Munna Bhai’s encounters with Gandhi’s ideas.
- Why
- Hirani was deeply influenced by Richard Attenborough’s 1982 film Gandhi and by his subsequent reading about Gandhi.
- Film
- Lage Raho Munna Bhai
- Release year
- 2006
- Director
- Rajkumar Hirani
- Central idea
- “Gandhigiri,” inspired by Gandhian principles
- Gandhi actor
- Dilip Prabhavalkar
- Munna Bhai actor
- Sanjay Dutt
- Recognition
- Dilip Prabhavalkar won the National Award for Best Supporting Actor