Ever since Bollywood’s most-envied and celebrated filmmaker Rajkumar Hirani was called out in the #MeToo Movement, he has been declared ‘an outcaste’
It has happened sooner than expected. Ever since Bollywood’s most-envied and celebrated filmmaker Rajkumar Hirani was called out in the #MeToo Movement, he has been declared ‘an outcaste’. A source says, “The tables have been turned on Raju so quickly, he probably hasn’t had time to recover.” From the outside, it appears as if the Sanju filmmaker’s closest associates — Vidhu Vinod Chopra and Abhijat Joshi — are the ones who have pulled the carpet from under his feet. On his part, Hirani has already denied the allegations.
In its January 11 edition, After Hrs had asked whether Raju’s name went missing from the poster of Vidhu’s Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga by mistake. But now, it is known that Chopra and Co who probably had wind of Hirani being dragged into an alleged sexual harassment case, had pulled out his name from the poster to perhaps appease the entertainment corporation that is bankrolling their film. And to think that three years ago, when rumours flew thick and fast of Raju flying solo and producing Sanju on his own (with Ranbir Kapoor as his producer-partner) and not Vinod Chopra, the Chopras’ representatives had called to object vehemently saying, “There is no way Raju and Vinod would even think of separating.”
How quickly things have changed!
CO-WRITERS NO MORE?
The other person who has chosen not to say anything to the press despite repeated messages is writer Abhijat Joshi. Raju and Abhijat have been a winning combination for over 15 years. Their work includes Munna Bhai M.B.B.S (2003), Lage Raho Munna Bhai (2006), 3 Idiots (2009), PK (2014) and Sanju (2018). The two have penned the screenplays for all of Hirani’s directorial work till date. From introducing the concept of Gandhigiri to making the Sanjay Dutt biopic, they have proved that together they are a force to reckon with. However, it is once again being said that Abhijat has decided not to work with Raju till his innocence in the #MeToo matter is proved.
RAJKUMAR HIRANI AND VIDHU VINOD CHOPRA’S ASSOCIATION
Rajkumar Hirani and Vidhu Vinod Chopra have worked together on some landmark Hindi films. Their earliest association dates back to 2003 when Hirani, who was an ad director till then, helmed Munna Bhai M.B.B.S. The film went on to be a blockbuster and was followed by the sequel Lage Raho Munna Bhai. It introduced the concept of Gandhigiri and gave Hirani a public image that looked like “it could never be beaten”. Until this juncture.
Vinod and Raju’s next venture — 3 Idiots — collected over Rs 200 crore on the domestic circuit. This was also Hirani’s first venture as a co-producer. Then came PK, which once again made history when it released. Their fifth collaboration, the Sanjay Dutt biopic, Sanju (2018), emerged as their highest grosser.
We tried contacting Hirani, Chopra and Joshi, but none of them reverted to our text messages till the time of going to press.
RAJKUMAR HIRANI’S TOP 3
Sanju (2018): Rs 334.57 cr
PK (2014): Rs 337.72 cr
3 Idiots (2009): Rs 201.37 cr
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "Rajkumar Hirani-Vidhu Vinod Chopra-Abhijat Joshi")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}