Munna Bhai M.B.B.S. is one of those movies that is often watched by cinema lovers on their lowest of days for some motivation. The satirical comedy-drama film directed by Rajkumar Hirani in his debut ended up receiving a national award and eventually became an evergreen film. The film was also playing across scores of screens in the country, achieving a silver jubilee status. But did you know it initially opened to empty theatres?

During an interview with Bollywood Hungama, producer of the 2003 film, Vidhu Vinod Chopra recalled how Munna Bhai MBBS’s opening on the big screen wasn’t as expected. He stated that Rajkumar Hirani was very upset thinking “I lost a lot of money.”

This is when he offered Rs 11,000 to Hirani but he refused to take anything. Chopra then told him that it was for his next movie and asked him to make another one as he thought this was a “great film.” He also offered Rs 4 crore and told Raju to work on his next as he didn’t care if Munna Bhai worked or not.

But the film started to pick up pace after Monday, but the seats were empty during the weekends. “I didn’t really wait for the film to become a success for me to make another film,” Chopra divulged. After watching the movie, one of the distributors from Tamil Nadu, who had first agreed to distribute the film, had later refused to go ahead with it.

This is when Chopra intervened and called his distributor friend Shyam Shroff and got a show added in Satyam, a popular cinema hall in Tamil Nadu. The team managed to get one single show for the 11:45 am show for Munna Bhai. And from that solo show, they were able to make Rs 1.67 crore, Chopra revealed in the same interview.

Munna Bhai M.B.B.S. is considered to be a landmark movie in the history of Indian cinema soon after which, a sequel, Lage Raho Munna Bhai, was released in 2006. It stars Sanjay Dutt, Sunil Dutt, Gracy Singh, Jimmy Sheirgill, Arshad Warsi, Rohini Hattangadi, and Boman Irani in key roles.

Born on August 16, 1958, as Madonna Louise Ciccone, Madonna is a worldwide phenomenon that has had a significant impact on the music industry for many years. With big hits like Holiday and Like a Virgin, her career took off in the early 1980s, and she was crowned the Queen of Pop.

Madonna, known for her constant reinvention and fearless creativity, has pushed boundaries in both music and fashion, establishing trends and challenging societal norms. As the singer turns 66 today, let’s take a closer look at her 5 best tracks:

1. Ray of Light

Madonna’s 1998 album, Ray of Light, was a significant return for the singer. Her career took a new direction with this album, after a period of declining popularity. William Orbit produced it, which showcased Madonna’s more personal and reflective side through the use of dance and electronica. 

The title track symbolized her comeback and helped her regain her dwindling fan base. Ray of Light revitalized Madonna’s career with its distinct sound and introspective lyrics, demonstrating her ability to captivate and engage her audience. 

2. Who’s That Girl

Despite the film’s poor reception, Madonna’s Who’s That Girl remains a standout track. Despite the fact that the film did poorly, the song was a huge success, reaching number one in the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada. The song highlights two important aspects of Madonna’s career: her desire to impress others in the film industry and her ability to create memorable songs that frequently outperform the films for which they are written.