The film’s greatest legacy is the term . Before this movie, "Gandhism" was often viewed as an archaic, textbook concept. Hirani and co-writer Abhijat Joshi stripped away the academic stiffness and replaced it with relatable actions:

What they did not expect was a philosophical revolution hiding behind a goofy grin.

The film’s most enduring contribution is the coining of the term "Gandhigiri,"

“ Gandhigiri means saying the truth without making the other person your enemy. ” – Circuit