Chetan Bhagat Reflects on '3 Idiots' Adaptation: A Defining Moment

In October 2025, renowned author Chetan Bhagat looks back on a pivotal moment in his career – the sale of the film rights to his 2004 novel 'Five Point Someone', which later became the blockbuster movie '3 Idiots'.

Bhagat, who was a banker with a passion for storytelling before his debut novel catapulted him to literary fame, reveals that he was paid a mere ₹1 lakh upfront for the '3 Idiots' rights in 2005, with an additional ₹10 lakh bonus promised upon the film's success. While the movie went on to gross over ₹350 crore worldwide, Bhagat's total earnings amounted to ₹11 lakh. However, the author says he has no regrets about the deal.

"I was pretty new then. Later, such rights were sold for crores. But when I sold the rights, I didn't even know if the film would ever be made -- it was an unconventional story. Nobody imagined Aamir Khan would do it. So I think, at that time, I was paid fairly," Bhagat explains.

The author also notes that in 2005, when the deal was struck, author rights were not as lucrative as they are today. Comparing his earnings to actor fees, Bhagat says the ₹11 lakh deal made sense at the time, as the lead actor in another film, 'Parineeta', was reportedly paid ₹25 lakh.

Since then, Bhagat has seen several of his books adapted for the screen, including '2 States' and 'Half Girlfriend'. He prefers fixed payments over revenue-sharing models, as he believes it's better to discuss money upfront rather than rely on variables that can often be manipulated by production houses.