Rajkumar Hirani, a popular Bollywood director is noted for making blockbuster films
Munna Bhai M.B.B.S (2003),
Lage Raho Munnabhai (2006),
3 Idiots (2009) and the satirical science fiction comedy
P.K (2014). The winner of four National Film Awards and 11 Filmfare Awards, wanted to pursue a career in film editing but after failing to find work as an editor, he moved to work in the advertising field. Over the years, he established himself as one of the leading producer and director of advertising films before eventually getting a break as a film editor with Mission Kashmir in 2000.
Early Life Born in a typical Sindhi family in Nagpur, Rajkumar Hirani has a Pakistani descent. His family who were originally hailed from Mehrabpur, Sindh, which is now in Pakistan moved to India during the partition in 1947. After moving to India, the family settled in Nagpur where Rajkumar`s father, Suresh Hirani ran a typing institute. After completing his schooling in St. Francis De`Sales High School, Hirani pursued his graduation in commerce as his parents wanted him to become a Charted Accountant.
Rajkumar Hirani, after completing his college started helping his father in his business but he always had a penchant for working in the theater. While in college he also acted in a few plays. After much convincing, his father finally gave in and sent him to Mumbai to study acting. However, Rajkumar found it difficult to adjust in Mumbai and he returned home to Nagpur within three days. Dejected at first, Rajkumar then applied for an acting course at the Film and Television Institute of India, Pune. However, by the time he applied, the acting course had shut down and so he opted for an editing course instead and earned a scholarship for the same.
Personal Life In 1994, Hirani married Manjeet, a pilot working with Indian Airlines and the couple have a son named Vir Hirani.
Movie Career As a Director Hirani`s directorial debut was the hugely popular comedy drama film, Munna Bhai M.B.B.S (2003) starring
Sanjay Dutt,
Gracy Singh,
Arshad Warsi,
Boman Irani and
Jimmy Shergill. The comedy film deviated from the stereotypical romances that were prevalent in Bollywood films at the time and was a massive international success. The film earned him his first National Award for Best Director. The director followed the success of Munna Bhai M.B.B.S with another blockbuster film
Lage Raho Munna Bhai (2006), which was the second instalment in the Munna Bhai series.
After 2006, the director took a break for three year and made a strong comeback with the
Aamir Khan,
Kareena Kapoor Khan,
R. Mahadevan and
Sharman Joshi starrer 3 Idiots (2009). The coming of age comedy-drama film, which was based on a novel by Chetan Bhagat titled Five Point Someone emerged to be one of the highest-grossing films that year. The film which highlighted the shortcoming of the Indian education system won several awards including the National Film Award for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment.
After the success of huge success of 3 Idiots, the director delivered yet another blockbuster in 2014 titled PK. The film starring
Aamir Khan,
Anushka Sharma,
Saurabh Shukla,
Sanjay Dutt and
Boman Irani received wide positive reviews and emerged to be one of the highest-grossing films of the year; it grossed more than 630 crore INR worldwide. His 2018 release include
Sanju, an Indian biographical drama film based on the life of the Bollywood actor, Sanjay Dutt featuring Ranbir Kapoor in the lead role.
As a Producer The stalwart director made his debut as a producer with PK (2014), which was also his directorial venture.
As an Editor Rajkuar Hirani made his debut as an editor with
Mission Kashmir in 2000 and since then he has worked as an editor for all his directorial ventures.