"Munna Bhai M.B.B.S." was a major critical and commercial success, and was later followed by a second film "Lage Raho Munna Bhai", thus becoming the first installment of the "Munna Bhai film series". Hirani revealed in an interview in September 2019 that production on the third Munna Bhai film starring Dutt in the title role will begin in towards the end of 2020. The film went on to win the 2004 National Film Award for Best Popular Film, and several Filmfare awards, including the Critics Award for Best Film and Best Screenplay. At the box office, it achieved a silver jubilee status (25-week run) being one of only eight films to have achieved this status since the year 2000. In its 26th week of release, the film could still be found playing on 257 screens throughout India.