The much-awaited sequel to '3 Idiots' is still taking shape, with director Rajkumar Hirani confirming that the original cast is expected to return. However, the filmmaker made it clear that the film is not locked yet and will only take off if the script reaches a stage that the team is happy with.
Story is still being developed
In an interview with ANI, Hirani said the team is currently working on the story and is not ready to discuss the project in detail yet.
“Kahani likhi jaa rahi hai (story is being written), we are still writing. Once it reaches the right point, then we will talk about it. Abhi toh (right now) we are still writing. Casting will be the same,” he said.
The 63-year-old director also explained that the sequel idea came about unexpectedly. The team was initially working on a different story when they realised it could work with the characters from '3 Idiots'.
“Abhi jo likh raha hoon voh bhi nahi socha ki sequel ke hisaab se likh raha hoon. Hum koi aur kahani likh rahe the phir aisa laga ki jo likh di hai voh iss second part par fit ho jayegi.” (Even what I am writing now, I had not thought of it as a sequel. We were writing another story, and then it felt like the story we had written would fit into this second part.)
Sequel will jump 20 years ahead
Hirani said the potential follow-up will not return to the college years of Rancho, Farhan and Raju. Instead, it will focus on where their lives have taken them two decades after the events of the original film.
“It's not about the students; it's about 20 years later ab kya hota hai unki life main. (It’s not about the students; it’s about what happens in their lives 20 years later.)
The filmmaker stressed that the project remains in the writing stage and will become a film only if the story ultimately works.
Hirani recalls 'Munna Bhai' sequel
Hirani also recalled how 'Lage Raho Munna Bhai' was developed. He said the sequel was not planned when he made 'Munna Bhai M.B.B.S', at a time when sequels were generally considered risky.
“Munna Bhai ka bhi jab sequel banaya tha, voh koi intention nahi tha banaen ka. Agar aap uss waqt ko yaad kare toh uss time par belief was that sequels don’t work. Pehle jitne sequels bane the kabhi nahi chale,” he said.
He explained that the idea emerged while the team was working on another story and found that it suited the characters from 'Munna Bhai M.B.B.S'.
'3 Idiots' starred Aamir Khan, Sharman Joshi, R Madhavan, Kareena Kapoor and Boman Irani in key roles.