In an era where action-packed films featuring epic hero-villain showdowns dominate the box office, one film has managed to captivate audiences and achieve blockbuster status without a single villain or action scene. This film is none other than “3 Idiots”.
Directed by acclaimed filmmaker Rajkumar Hirani, “3 Idiots” was initially turned down by Bollywood superstars such as Shah Rukh Khan, Saif Ali Khan, Ranbir Kapoor, and Kajol. Despite these early rejections, the film went on to become a critical and commercial success, winning multiple National Awards.
Upon its release, “3 Idiots” quickly became one of Bollywood’s most beloved films. The star-studded cast included Aamir Khan, R Madhavan, Sharman Joshi, Boman Irani and Kareena Kapoor Khan. The film’s unique blend of emotional and comedic scenes resonated with audiences, as it followed the friendship of three students at an Indian engineering college and satirised the social pressures of the Indian education system.
The film, loosely adapted from Chetan Bhagat’s novel “Five Point Someone”, initially had Shah Rukh Khan in mind for the lead role of Ranchoddas Chanchad. However, due to prior commitments, Khan had to turn down the role. Ranbir Kapoor was also approached but declined to play Rancho.
Before R Madhavan and Saif Ali Khan were finalised for their roles, Saif Ali Khan and John Abraham were considered but had to reject the film due to scheduling conflicts. Arshad Warsi also turned down a role in the film. Boman Irani’s role was initially offered to Sanjay Dutt, who was unable to accept.
Boman Irani, who played Dr. Viru Sahastrabuddhe, admitted in an interview that he was initially nervous about the role and had recommended Irrfan Khan for it. However, after Khan’s refusal, Irani accepted the role. Kareena Kapoor Khan’s role as Pia, Aamir Khan’s love interest in the film, was initially offered to Kajol, who turned it down as she was not satisfied with the part.
“3 Idiots” shattered several box office records upon its release. It boasted the highest opening day collections for an Indian film at the time and held the record for the highest net collections in the first week for a Hindi film. In addition to grossing Rs 460 crore worldwide at the box office, the film won three National Awards for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment, Best Lyrics and Best Audiography at the 57th National Film Awards. Today, “3 Idiots” is regarded as one of the greatest films of India.
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