Won’t do Munnabhai film without Sanjay Dutt: Arshad Warsi

Actor Arshad Warsi, who played Circuit in “Munnabhai” films where Sanjay Dutt plays the lead role, says he won’t do any new film in the popular franchise without the real “Munnabhai”.

He says neither can he, nor will audiences be able to see anybody else in the role Dutt, who is currently in jail serving his sentence in the 1993 Mumbai blasts case.

“I can’t [work in the film without Dutt] because for that character, you can’t think of any other person now. That character has a definite structure and a definite personality that matches a lot with that of Sanju’s personality,” Arshad said in Mumbai on Friday on the sidelines of the DVD launch of his last release “Jolly LLB”.

“I think somewhere down the line, our audience has enjoyed Sanju [in the film] and they are stuck with him. They will not be able to see anybody. Neither can I imagine anybody else,” added the 45-year-old.

The first two “Munnabhai” films — “Munnabhai M.B.B.S” (2003) and “Lage Raho Munnabhai” (2006) featured Dutt and Warsi. These movies, directed by Rajkumar Hirani, made their characters iconic. A third “Munnabhai” film was in the pipelines, but the makers have put it on hold until Dutt comes out of prison.

The actor surrendered on Thursday, after being convicted in 1993 Mumbai serial bomb blasts case. He has to complete his jail term of three-and-a half years.