Sanjay Dutt recently revisited one of his most iconic characters, Munna Bhai, for a satirical take on Indian politics. During an appearance on Shekhar Suman’s show ‘Shekhar Tonite’, the actor was asked to imagine himself as the Prime Minister of India for five minutes. What followed was a humorous monologue delivered in the familiar language and mannerisms of Munna Bhai.The Gandhi Jayanti special episode, released on Friday, saw Sanjay blend humour with references to Mahatma Gandhi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump. Through his imagined speech, the actor touched upon the prominent display of political leaders’ photographs in public spaces, foreign trips and Trump’s tariff policies, while making a case for Gandhi’s philosophy of “Gandhigiri” over confrontation.The segment came after Sanjay spoke about the current state of the country and expressed his wish for Indians to experience greater peace. He said, “The people of this country are so lovely. There should be peace here. I can’t feel that peace in our country anymore. We Indians are large-hearted people and we are hospitable. We have given so much, and we should always remain that way. I pray to Shivji that those days come back soon.”When asked to imagine himself as the Prime Minister and address the nation, Sanjay immediately slipped into his Munna Bhai persona.“Chalo desh mein kuch to chal rehla hai. Mere pyaare deshwasiyo, aaj apun aapka PM banke khub khush hua. Bole to body mein ajeeb type ka tarang daud re la hai. Bole to itna bada desh hai, itne saare log hain aur ab hum sabki zimmedari apun ke upar (My dear countrymen, today I am very happy to have become your PM. There is a strange kind of energy running through my body. This is such a huge country, there are so many people, and now the responsibility of all of them is on me).”He then joked about staying in India rather than travelling abroad to celebrate becoming Prime Minister, making an indirect reference to PM Modi.“Lekin aap log ekdum tension nahi lene ka. Apun is khushi ko celebrate karne videsh nahi jaane wala hai. Apun idharich rahega, aap sab logon ke beech. Nahi to PM aur janta mein connection kaise banega (But you people don’t have to worry at all. I am not going abroad to celebrate this happiness. I will stay right here, among all of you. Otherwise, how will there be a connection between the PM and the people?)”Sanjay then invoked Mahatma Gandhi and the three monkeys associated with his teachings, while suggesting that people should not simply remain silent when they witness something wrong.“Apun Gandhi ji ko bahut maanta hai. Aur Gandhi ji ke teen bandar sabko pata hai — bura mat dekho, bura mat suno, bura mat kaho. Lekin aaj ek chautha bandar bhi mangta hai. Bura dekhega to use theek kaun karega? (I really believe in Gandhi ji. Everyone knows his three monkeys — don’t see evil, don’t hear evil, don’t speak evil. But today I want a fourth monkey too. If someone sees something wrong, who will correct it?)”“Teeno bandar aankh, kaan, munh band karke baith jayega to desh kaise chalega, saala? (If all three monkeys sit with their eyes, ears and mouths shut, then how will the country function?)”The actor also poked fun at the widespread presence of the Prime Minister’s photographs, saying that the country should take precedence over an individual’s image.“Aur apun ko desh ke liye bahut kuch karne ka mauka mila hai PM banke, to apun ek aur kaam karega. Jahaan jahaan uska photo laga hai na, apun usko ekdum kam kar dega. Desh ko desh ka photo dikhna chahiye. (I have got the opportunity to do a lot for the country as a PM, so I will do one more thing. Wherever PM’s photograph has been put up, I will reduce it. The country should see a picture of the country.)”He continued, “Jahaan apna photo lagane ka mann karega na, wahaan Gandhi ji ka photo lagane ka. Bole to Gandhi ji ke vichar dekhna zyada zaroori hai. Apun ka photo dekh ke janta kya karega? (Wherever I feel like putting my own photograph, I will put Gandhi ji’s photograph there. Gandhi ji’s thoughts are more important. What will the people do by looking at my photograph?)”“Bole to apna photo to apun baad mein bhi khichwa sakta hai na, lekin desh ko pehle frame mein lagane ka. (I can get my photograph taken later as well, but the country should be put in the frame first.)”Turning his attention to international affairs, Sanjay brought Donald Trump into his fictional PM speech, referring to the US President as “Trump mamu”.“Aur agar desh ko frame mein laana hai to thoda duniya ko bhi frame mein laana padega na. Bole to apun dekh raha hai ki Trump mamu puri duniya ko out of frame karne mein laga hai. (And if we want to bring the country into the frame, then we will have to bring the world into the frame too. I can see that Trump mamu is trying to push the whole world out of the frame).”He then used his signature humorous style to suggest dialogue and diplomacy instead of threats and conflict.“Dekho Trump mamu, zyada tante nahi paalne ka. Duniya mein missile waise hi bahut ho gaya hai. Ab thoda pyaar bhi export karne ka. Kahin missile bhejne ka mann kare to pehle guldasta bhejne ka. Kisi ko dhamki dene ka mann kare na to use phone karke ghar bulane ka aur chai peete-peete baat suljhane ka. (Don’t create so much trouble. There are already enough missiles in the world. Now export a little love too.If you feel like sending a missile somewhere, send a bouquet first. If you feel like threatening someone, call them home and resolve the matter over a cup of tea.)”He wrapped up the satirical segment with a reference to another popular Munna Bhai catchphrase, saying, “Apun aa rela hai America, tumko jaadu ki jhappi dene.(I am coming to America to give you a jaadu ki jhappi.)”
