At IFFI 2025, a standout session featured filmmaker Rajkumar Hirani, who presented a masterclass titled 'Film is Made on Two Tables — Writing & Editing: A Perspective.'

During a lively and often humorous discussion, Hirani shared how some of the most memorable scenes from films like Lage Raho Munna Bhai, Munna Bhai MBBS, 3 Idiots, and PK were born not from meticulous planning but rather from serendipitous moments, improvisations, and unexpected errors.

Opening with a light-hearted remark, Hirani reassured the audience, saying, “Don’t worry, this is not a workshop on furniture making,” which set a friendly and open atmosphere for the session. He elaborated on the unpredictable nature of scene development, stating, “You write one thing, shoot another, and the editor often finds a third version.” He highlighted that many unforgettable scenes from Lage Raho evolved significantly from their initial drafts, often by chance. Writer Abhijat Joshi joined him in discussing how genuine emotions and themes often arise from personal memories rather than technical skill. “We might forget where we placed our keys just moments ago, but we vividly recall impactful moments from decades past,” Joshi noted. These cherished memories inspired scenes such as the electric-shock tale in 3 Idiots and the humorous ‘hair in the roti’ incident that Hirani cleverly included during editing. He chuckled while recalling his comment to Joshi post-shoot, “I managed to turn one more screw.”

The duo also reflected on scenes that were initially written but ultimately cut, those that failed to resonate on paper yet thrived on set, and others that only found their true essence during the editing phase. The now-famous Bande Mein Tha Dum sequence from Lage Raho Munna Bhai was never scripted; it was crafted entirely in post-production after early screenings indicated that Gandhiji’s presence diminished in the latter part of the film. Hirani remarked, “That montage provided the emotional depth the film required, and it was purely coincidental.” He also discussed how actors can influence scenes in surprising ways, sharing an anecdote about Boman Irani, who improvised a line in Munna Bhai MBBS: “If I love my patients, I won’t be able to operate.”