Chetan Bhagat vs 3 Idiots

Chetan Bhagat vs Team 3 Idiots

The two sides are fighting over credits to the book

By Somen Mishra . CNN-IBN Dec 31, 2009

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Though team 3 Idiots is celebrating the film's success, author Chetan Bhagat is upset. The author of Five Point Someone, on which 3 Idiotsis based was surprised not to get an opening credit in the film. And even in the closing credit roll, Chetan's name comes quite late.

"The key plot points, the characters, incidents, messages, story - it's an adaptation. There are some changes which any adaptation has and it's ironic that no story credit is given to me. And it's strange that you do it to a book which is so popular because people are going to find out and people have found out and they have flooded my twitter page about it," he says.

However, the gang behind 3 Idiots were quick to defend themselves when faced with allegations of having given the writer a raw deal.

Actor Aamir Khan says, "I met Chetan when I was shooting here, and I told him I have not read your book. He said don't bother, the script is different. This he told me some eight months back and if he is saying something else then that reflects on him. Not on Raju or Vidhu Vinod Chopra."

The producer of 3 Idiots, Vidhu Vinod Chopra has even accused Chetan of being publicity hungry as the film has now become blockbuster hit.

Chopra says, "He (Chetan Bhagat) was promised a bonus if the film becomes a hit, and it was given to him even before the film released. You are giving fame to a man like that. When a film becomes a hit, a lot of people come out to share credit."

However Chetan is unperturbed by Aamir and Vidhu Vinod Chopra's indifferent reactions to his concerns.

He says, "Some of the makers have accused me of being fame hungry. I think they don't realise how popular I am. As a writer, I don't think anyone had as much fame as I have. On Twitter, on my blog, on my column, you can see that (fame)."

Bound by contract, Chetan Bhagat may not be able to take any legal action against team3 Idiots but he will surely be reading the fineprint with extra care the next time round.