Film made on his book earned over Rs 400 crore. But what author received as payment for selling rights will shock you

When 3 Idiots premiered in 2009, it not only shattered box-office records but also became a cultural landmark in Indian cinema. Starring Aamir Khan, the film dominated theatres and emerged as the highest-grossing Hindi movie of that year. Beyond its domestic success, it found an international audience, earning immense popularity in countries like Japan and China—an achievement rarely seen for Indian films.

With global earnings surpassing ₹400 crore, the film became a massive success story. However, the author whose novel inspired the movie, Chetan Bhagat, received only a modest payment for selling the adaptation rights to his debut book, Five Point Someone.

In a recent conversation with Kushal Lodha on his podcast, Bhagat revisited that pivotal chapter of his life. He shared how his first novel’s success had transformed his career trajectory, motivating him to leave behind his corporate job and become a full-time writer. Describing the process of selling the film rights, Bhagat revealed that the agreement was signed for ₹1 lakh, with a clause promising an additional ₹10 lakh as a bonus after the film’s release. True to the deal, the production team honored the bonus once the film became a runaway hit. Despite 3 Idiots earning over ₹400 crore on a budget of around ₹55 crore, Bhagat’s total earnings from the rights amounted to only ₹11 lakh.

Reflecting on the contract, he explained that he was new to the industry back then and lacked awareness about the true value of such deals. At the time, film rights for books were not considered highly lucrative, and Bhagat himself wasn’t sure the film would even get made. The story, he noted, was unconventional for Bollywood standards, and no one had anticipated that an actor of Aamir Khan’s stature would take on the project. Given those circumstances, Bhagat maintained that the payment he received was fair, even if it seemed minimal in hindsight.

The story of 3 Idiots follows the journey of three friends—Rancho, Farhan, and Raju—as they navigate the pressures and challenges of life at a prestigious engineering college. Alongside Aamir Khan, the film featured R. Madhavan, Kareena Kapoor, and Sharman Joshi in key roles, each contributing to its lasting legacy as one of Indian cinema’s most beloved films.