In a surprising revelation, actor Arshad Warsi has disclosed that he was on the verge of turning down the iconic role of Circuit in the 2003 blockbuster Munna Bhai MBBS, a decision that would have altered the course of his career and Bollywood pop culture. The actor credited an unexpected conversation with a tarot card reader for changing his mind.
The Tarot Card Intervention That Saved Circuit
Speaking in a recent interview, Warsi recalled that after a few small roles offered by producer Vidhu Vinod Chopra, he was determined to reject what he perceived as another insignificant part. On December 29, 2025, he shared that he was actually on his way to Chopra's office to say no when he met tarot card reader Ritambhara Dewan.
"I told her I no longer wanted to do small roles. I was going to tell sir to only call me for good roles or my career would be ruined," Warsi stated. After hearing about the film's team, which initially included Tabu, Dewan checked her cards and strongly advised him to take the project, predicting it would be a major success.
Warsi was skeptical, arguing that even a great film wouldn't help him if the role was poor. Intriguingly, Dewan also predicted the female lead would be changed. Upon reaching the office, Warsi found Gracy Singh had replaced Tabu due to date issues, confirming part of the prophecy. While still hesitant, he agreed to do the film for debutant director Rajkumar Hirani, whom he liked, on one condition: he wanted the freedom to improvise and have fun.
From 'Khujli' to Circuit: Creating an Icon
The actor revealed that the character was originally named Khujli, a name he disliked as it reminded him of certain roles played by the late Kader Khan. It was Warsi who suggested the change to Circuit. Much of the character's now-famous humour and scenes were a result of on-set improvisation, which Hirani welcomed.
By the time the sequel Lage Raho Munna Bhai released in 2006, Hirani had so perfectly understood Warsi's comic timing that everything the actor would have improvised was already written into the script.
Why 'Munna Bhai Chale America' Never Happened
The conversation also shed light on the long-awaited and ultimately shelved third instalment, Munna Bhai Chale America. An announcement poster was released, but the project was dropped. Warsi explained the primary reason: the storyline bore a striking resemblance to a Shah Rukh Khan film.
"As far as I know, My Name Is Khan's (2010) story turned out to be very similar to that of Munna Bhai Chale America," Warsi said. "In this movie too, we both (Munna Bhai and Circuit) were to meet the US president." He emphasized that director Rajkumar Hirani is meticulous about originality and dislikes when his work resembles other films. This trait was evident when, upon learning about the premise of Oh My God (2012), he rewrote the second half of his subsequent film PK (2014) three times.
Despite the shelving, there is hope for fans. Warsi confirmed that Hirani has three complete scripts ready for a potential third Munna Bhai film. The actor confidently added that all these scripts are "far better than most movies that make it to screens these days."
The revelations offer a fascinating glimpse into the behind-the-scenes decisions and chance encounters that shaped one of Hindi cinema's most beloved franchises, highlighting the fine line between a role accepted and a cultural icon lost.
