3 Idiots was a landmark film in director Rajkumar Hirani and Aamir Khan‘s career, the one that not only received critical acclaim but also box office success. The film that went on to become the biggest Bollywood hit of 2009, earned Rs 350 crore worldwide and a National Film Award for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment.
However, there was a time when the film almost got shelved as the financers were not convinced with its unconventional story and not ready to invest their money in it. They insisted Rajkumar Hirani make Munnabhai 3 instead, the next installment of the superhit franchise starring Sanjay Dutt and Arshad Warsi. Hirani’s refusal to do another Munnabhai and Aamir Khan showing interest in 3 Idiots changed everything.
Chetan Bhagat in Kushal Lodha’s podcast shared a few unknown facts about one of Aamir Khan’s most successful and memorable movies.
Chetan Bhagat on why he received Rs 11 lakh for 3 Idiots
The bestseller author whose new book 12 Years: My Messed-Up Love Story came after a significant gap post Half Girlfriend’s 2014 release, reminisced about the time when he sold 3 Idiots rights for Rs 1 lakh, with the promise of a Rs 10 lakh bonus if the film succeeds at the box office.
The author noted that he was new at the time and while the amount has been in crores for the later films, at that time he was unknown and the fate of the film was not clear. Bhagat sold his film’s right long before Aamir Khan entered the scene and the movie’s fate hanged in balance.
“It was a very strange unconventional Hindi movie. In early 2000 rights were done when only heroes used to do the action. Here three guys were in the lead and nobody in the wildest dream would imagine that Aamir Khan would do the film and it will become so iconic that even today people talk about 3 idiots,” the author said.
‘Today’s heroes are getting paid in crores, but I signed the deal in 2005’
The Five Point Someone author feels he was paid fairly as “it’s a 16 year old movie.”
“It may feel like now (that he was paid less) looking at what the movie has earned. I remember they were making another movie with Vidhu Vinod Chopra production called Parineeta and again I can’t confirm these numbers as I never saw the documents. I was told the hero Saif is getting Rs 25 lakh, so they said Rs 11 lakh for you if the movie is successful. I said ok, that sounds fair. So you have to put it in that context. Today’s heroes are getting paid in crores. Rs 25 lakh wale zamane ki baat ho rahi hai. 2004 book came, I must have done the deal in 2005 and movie came out in 2009,” shared Bhagat.
Recalling his meeting with Rajkumar Hirani, Chetan Bhagat shared: “I was in the bank and I got a call from Raju Hirani on my Nokia phone. I told my boss in the meeting that i have to step out,” he said.
Bhagat recalled how 3 Idiots almost never got made, because it was an unconventional concept.
He said Hirani almost didn’t make the movie as financers wanted him to make Munnabhai 3. However, the movie never got made as the filmmaker didn’t want to make another Munnabhai. “Then luckily Aamir said yes. Raju said he didn’t want to do Munnabhai 3 now, I have only done Munnabhai in my career. I said okay. Rest is history,” shared Bhagat.